From press release

Collections are being taken now through January for Carrie Lynn Children’s Center, 826 N. Main St., Rockford. Founded in 1989 as the Children’s Advocacy Center of Winnebago County, the organization was set up to handle child sexual abuse cases. In December 1989, the CAC Advisory Board met for the first time, and a protocol was completed in August of 1990. In February 1991, the CAC began accepting cases.

Originally located at the Winnebago County Courthouse, with interview rooms at a local counseling agency, the CAC later expanded its mission and scope by serving Boone County and serious physical abuse cases. Finally, as a result of a major capital fund campaign, the Carrie Lynn Children’s Center opened its doors in November 1997.

People are requested to donate toys, snacks and money to help the Center. Two drop-off locations are at Bove’s Auto, 1111 Ferguson St., Rockford, and Bargain Barn Antiques, 11951 Main St., Roscoe. Due to budget cutbacks and the increased number of children needing services,  the need has grown. Any extra proceeds will go to the many other safe havens established for other children.

The Wish List includes: Games—Guess Who, Jr. Scrabble, Cranium Games, Trouble, Uno, Boggle. Toys—Barbies & clothes (both white & black dolls), Fisher Price anything, trucks, cars, trains and planes; Power Rangers; Super Heroes (Spiderman, Batman, etc.). Therapy art supplies—Play Doh—cookie cutters; scrapbooking items, at least 8 -1/2 x 11”; puppet theater; coloring books and crayons; markers (washable); pads of drawing paper. Other Center needs are a new heavy-duty vacuum cleaner, any appropriate men’s catalogs for the lobby; snacks & juices individually packaged (Capri Sun, crackers, fruit snacks), two 19” or 20” flat screen TVs for interview rooms; Wal-Mart gift cards; money.

The Center served 593 victims in FY 2009 and employs 10 staff members, eight full time and two part time. The mission of the Carrie Lynn Children’s Center is to provide a comprehensive multi-disciplinary response to child sexual abuse and serious physical abuse allegations in a neutral, child-focused setting. The purpose is to coordinate and track the investigations, medical treatment, counseling referrals, prosecution and training in order to protect the best interests of the child victims and their families.

From the Dec. 9-15, 2009 issue