Charity begins at home

It's been a month, more or less, since my last post, and I've been busy. I've gotten some email from readers that I'll talk about in this post and the next few, but the focus of this post is what's been going on in Bastrop. Kids are back in school and the flu and other viruses have been raging through town. Almost everyone I know has at least had one family member get hit with some form of virus over the past month, and you know if one person at the home or workplace gets it, it often spreads to others, no matter how much handwashing and other precautions are taken.

I want to encourage readers and Bastropians to support some of our local charities that benefit the kids. Our family likes to buy local to support local businesses, and I'll argue that the same thing applies to charity: Charity begins at home. By that, I mean we should support our local charities that provide services right here in our community.

There are several charity or non-profit organizations that my family tries to support on a regular basis. We don't make a ton of money, but when we have a few extra dollars we do try to donate it on a local basis.

I was very lucky as a child to be born to and raised by parents who cherished our existence. We were disciplined, for sure, but we were also loved. My sibling and I grew up in such a sheltered and wonderful environment that when we did discover that there were parents who physically and sexually abused their children, we were shocked. The world was not the perfect place we thought it was.

I remember a girl I went to school with briefly. Her parents, who were of substantial financial means, moved here when the girl, who I'll call Jane, was in 6th grade. Went to school with her until her parents moved. The parents moved because of CPS investigations. I remember the day Jane showed up at school with a broken arm in a cast. She fell in the backyard while jumping on the trampoline, she said. It later turned out her father had picked Jane up over his head and thrown her to the ground, in a drunken rage because she had not cleaned her room. They moved shortly after CPS and other agencies started investigating this injury, and I often wonder what became of Jane. I hope things got better.

One of our favorite non-profits is the Children's Advocacy Center, which provides not only counseling services for abused children but also forensic services for law enforcement to effectively investigate those who would abuse the children. It's shocking how much child abuse goes on in this county, state and nation. The CAC exists based on grants and donations and from the funds they raise through fundraising.

Unless you live like a hermit with no internet or newspaper, then you know that the CAC holds Cowboys and Caviar every spring to raise money. Likewise, this November 7th, a Saturday, will be the Annual BBQ Cookoff on the Colorado, which also raises money for the CAC. It's held at Mayfair Park across from the Farmer's Markets and more details can be found here http://www.childrensadvocacycenter.org/events.cfm?. Note that volunteers are needed for this and all other events that the CAC puts on, and the money goes to save the children.

You might also want to note on your Calenders that the 2010 Cowboys and Caviar event will occur on March 13th, 2010 at the Riverbend Park in Smithville, and it will feature entertainment by Bastrop's own STILL ROCKING, featuring Dr. Rob Dougherty on lead guitar. I added that last part, and Rob would probably not be happy that I omitted the names of the other excellent band members. But if you've never seen this band, well, you'll be amazed at the extreme talent that Rob has on guitar. I'll do a post on this great band at a future date.

The Boys and Girls Club of Bastrop is another fine non-profit that needs support to help our kids. Gary Schiff and his wife throw their yearly "Jazz Jam" to raise money for this fine organization. THE RESCHEDULED JAZZ JAM FEATURING ERIC JOHNSON AND HANNIBAL LOKUMBE IS RESCHEDULED TO SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH, 2009 AT THE LAKESIDE HOSPITAL PROFESSIONAL BUILDING. You can go to this link for more information. https://secureonlinegiving.com/events/site/index.asp?eventID=120. This year, they'll be auctioning a signed guitar by Eric Johnson, and that will surely raise some big bucks for the organization. Along with Cowboys and Caviar, this is the social event of the season of Bastrop County. Normally held in May of each year, it was rescheduled to October due to swine flu concerns.

The Family Crisis Center helps families where domestic violence has reared it's ugly head. Often, the CAC and the FCC have clients in common, because when spousal violence exists, often too child abuse occurs. Lately, there's been a lot of news coverage nationwide about the links between domestic and child abuse and animal abuse. It seems an abuser is often an abuser of everyone in the home, including pets and animals. The FCC operates the Bits and Pieces Thrift Shop on 71, and I urge you to consider making your clothing and household goods donations to them.

Another great non-profit is the BEF, the Bastrop Education Foundation. They raise money make our Bastrop schools much much better. Their website is located at www.bastropeducationfoundation.org. They do lots of other great stuff too, like campaign to get bond issues passed.

I know I've forgotten a few charities and some other events. Be sure to comment and tell me about your favorite Bastrop charity organizations and how we can help support them and their fundraisers.