Remember her . . .

Is it just me or did we skip winter? There were a few minor flirtations with the old man of the season but the next thing I knew, the red buds and Bradford Pear were in full bloom! Now if we can just get enough rain to keep the lake full and produce a brilliant bluebonnet show, it will be great.

We’re busy as ever at Mission Granbury; growing a few programs in different directions and just plain growing in others. After years of crisis management, we’re restructuring the way we provide emergency financial assistance with a focus on moving clients out of crisis and into self-sufficiency. Statistically, positive outcomes are more likely if we help clients define a path out of crisis instead of just providing a quick momentary fix. Similar program developments are being piloted at the Ada Carey Shelter as well. Too many victims return to their abusers because they have nowhere else to go. More on these two program developments in the next few months, but for now, we have plenty of other events to tell you about.

Our New Beginnings Resale Shop is now open 6 days a week and offers furniture and appliances as well as designer clothes. Watch the newspaper and our Facebook page for half price specials and monthly yard sales. If you have lightly used furniture you no longer need, please let us know and we’ll arrange to pick it up (thanks to the generous donation of a trailer!).

April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month and Jean Cate and her C.A.S.A. Blue Team are gearing up for the second annual Blue Flags on the Square project. Did you know that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be the victim of sexual abuse by the time they’re 17 – or that more than 66,500 cases of child abuse were reported in Texas in 2014? That same year, 151 Texas children died from abuse and neglect – that’s almost 3 children every week. Think about that number. It’s staggering. Our hope is to display 151 blue flags during the month of April to remember each one of them. Mission Granbury and our C.A.S.A. program are asking the Hood and Somervell businesses and individuals to join us in remembering these children and raising awareness for Child Abuse by sponsoring a flag for a child. Sponsorship per flag is $100 and all proceeds go to our C.A.S.A. program to help fund volunteer recruitment and training and ongoing support of our valuable volunteer advocates.

Mark your calendars for Mission Gatsby, our annual Gala on Saturday, April 23rd at the beautiful Oak Water Ranch on Neri Road. We’re super excited about this year’s event and The Great Gatsby theme. This is our one major fund raiser of the year so everyone gets involved in making it as spectacular and fun as possible. Watch the Hood County News for a glimpse of our Legacy Program mascots! Last year’s goat was a huge hit in the community and this year’s fancy silky chickens, “Jay & Daisy,” are going to be even more fun. Join us for dining and dancing to a live band playing the Big Band sound and a fabulous live auction. Tables can be purchased by calling our Development Director, Crystal Moore, at 817-888-2551 or you may contact me. Personally, I can’t wait to legitimately wear a flapper dress and long dangly earrings! dscovel@missiongranbury.org |817-579-6866