Don’t Forget About These Kids!

Our local domestic violence center is collecting school supplies for the young victims of domestic violence. In this season of school supply shopping, I think that I must live in a very compassionate town. Local churches and businesses collect backpacks and supplies for local kids in need. There are back to school bashes and mass giveaways. There is a high poverty rate here, and every bit of support counts!

Even with all of the great support, there is a group that the bashes and giveaways don’t necessarily reach. Domestic violence survivors and the children involved are not likely to partake in these.

When the AoA kids and I left our abuser, socializing was not something we did much. Fear followed us at its strongest, during the first year of survival. In addition to fear, it never crossed my mind that there was something we needed. I just focused on staying safe. In time, reality began to set in…the kids had homework, and I realized that we had no pencils, paper, glue sticks, or even scissors. We didn’t even have any books in our safe house. All of that had been left behind in the home of our abuser when we fled to safety.

There was an army of Angels in our lives that did the little things, like give the kids books to keep at home, and things to play with while we slowly rebuilt our lives.

I am so grateful to be in a place now, where I can reach back and help another. When our community is reaching out to the masses, the AoA kids and I do our bit of giving. We help give a voice to the youngest victims of domestic violence. I pray that an Army of Angels watches over each and every one…that they experience love and kindness from others, and that they feel worthy and accepted.

This is Little AoA delivering backpacks to our domestic violence center. She picked out the backpacks and supplies, and put them together with a lot of care.

What is a small act of kindness that has made a difference in your life?

~AoA