Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Car wash to raise money for abuse victims

Local student organizations are gearing up for summer car washes to raise money for abused children. The proceeds from each car wash will be utilized to assist victims of child abuse and domestic violence, and will provide the resources necessary to build a safe and independent life for the children and their moms. The car wash project is called Battle for the Bucks. Competing school teams battle to raise the most through sponsorships and donations.

On May 17th from 9:00am-2:00am, the Gurdon Go-Devil cheerleaders will host their carwash at 305 E. Main Street (old Entergy building beside the Sonic) in Gurdon. Terri Dillard is there sponsor. The girls have been collecting sponsors around town at around a dollar per car. Contact Terri Dillard at (870)353-4311 to pledge your sponsorship and help these children make the difference in the lives of abused children in their own home towns.

The Prescott Curley Wolf cheerleaders will host their car wash on May 24th from 9:00am-2:00am at 103 E. 2nd Street (Bank of Prescott). To participate with your sponsorship in Prescott contact Stephanie Beard at (870)887-3123.

According to Marty Watson, President of the Board of Directors, Courage House is a 501c3 non-profit organization serving eleven counties, in South Central Arkansas through various programs since 1983. In 2007, we served 8,985 meals, serviced 1274 women and 1530 children. Weve provided transitional housing for 9 women and 26 children, handled 266 crisis calls, and provided emergency shelter to 65 women and 87 children.

The Child Advocacy Program ran by the Courage House provides resident children with one on one advocacy, needs assessment, coping skills, confrontation management skills, after school tutoring, domestic violence prevention, and safety planning.

Cheryl Cooper is the Executive Director for Courage House and says, Children are often the unseen victims of domestic violence due to the day to day violence. The trauma that these children have learned to live with requires a lot of support, love, and understanding. It is truly wonderful to see so many children willing to help other children in their own areas. We thank the community for coming in and helping these victims as well.

If you would like to sponsor a team but are unable to reach their teachers while they are in class, please contact the Courage House at 870-246-3122 and pledge your donations for the team of your choice.