For 25 years, more years than not, I’ve been on the Board of Directors of the Crisis Center in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Some years ago, C&F folks raised, I think, $10,000 or so for this organization.
In the last year, Crisis Center staff and volunteers answered an average of over 115 calls each day from people in various forms of crisis and distress. Whether its elementary aged children struggling with bullies and homework, teens pondering self-harm, seniors struggling through social isolation, or just everyday men and women contemplating ending their lives, volunteers help people every time they pick up the phone.
The program that is particularly near and dear to my heart is the array of services to victims of sexual assault. Several years ago, when I was President of the Board, we initiated a free-standing emergency facility for evaluation and treatment of victims of sexual assault. The idea was that the typical hospital ER is a particularly difficult place for a victim to have to go immediately after being assaulted. So, our dedicated and very welcoming facility was specifically designed to receive one victim at a time. Just in our community we take care of 300 victims per year.
We also have a large and growing facility that provides day care and treatment for poor people who are severely mentally ill. We currently take care of 80 people a day in that program.
We have a member drive. Become a member for $65. Here’s the deal.
To someone who joins this year, we will be giving away a new 2008 Mazda Miata convertible and to someone else a 2008 Vespa Scooter. The thing is, we do not sell more than 1000 memberships . So, you know, I can’t do the math, but I don’t think you’ll often get those kind of odds to win a new car or a new Vespa.
The drawing for these prizes will be Friday, June 27th. All entries must arrive at the Crisis Center by 5:00 p.m., Thursday, June 26th.
Here’s how you can enter:
http://www.crisiscenterbham.com/friendsmiata2008.htm
Thanks for considering! And be sure to let them know Dale sent you!
Dale