We were happy to participate in a local fundraiser where local businesses hosted a classroom that helped with a variety of projects. In our case, we hosted a 2nd-grade class that helped make Thank You cards. And believe me, we have a whole lot of reasons to write Thank You cards! We had fun helping the children make the cards and the hand collage featured above by dipping their little hands in acrylic paint. The students’ efforts earned a donation to Lexington Public Schools.

Orange Shirt Day is October 30th of each year. It is a day to celebrate every child, past, present, and future.

Since Stacey and I are also book lovers, check out Every Child Matters

In closing, we want to remind our readers that some of the most vulnerable people who are targeted and victimized are children in foster care. We did a small deed to help children living in foster care because they matter too!

We delivered goodie bags for 37 children who were reunited for a long weekend here in Central Nebraska by a non-profit Camp Catch-Up. While visiting the siblings during their stay at Camp Comeaca, we encountered kids painting their faces, playing ball, and being busy on their devices. Typical kid activity, what a treasure.

A set of twins, one living in Western Nebraska and the other living in the Northeast part of Nebraska, were selected to lead us through the camp. They told us that the only time they get to see each other is during the camps. Both will be graduating from high school this year and have plans to work and pursue a higher education. They will have two more opportunities to attend Camp Catch-up before transitioning from foster care into adulthood. That transition period is a critical time for many, to help they recieved a small anti-trafficking toolkit in their goodie bags. a few of the items included in the toolkits were grooming tactics and ways to report.

Report Trafficking

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911.

Human trafficking is a situation in which an individual is compelled to work or engage in commercial sex through the use of force, fraud or coercion. If the individual is under the age of 18 and engaging in commercial sex they are experiencing trafficking regardless of whether force, fraud, or coercion is also taking place.

If you believe you may have information about a trafficking situation:

• Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free hotline at 1-888-373-7888: Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking.
• Text the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 233733. Message and data rates may apply.
• Chat the National Human Trafficking Hotline via humantraffickinghotline.org/chat.
• Submit a tip online through the anonymous online reporting form below. However, please note that if the situation is urgent or occurred within the last 24 hours we would encourage you to call, text or chat.
• Interpreters are available via phone call only.