Once again Tulsa Chapter has chosen to provide Christmas gifts for the children at the Laura Dester Children’s Center. This is a long-standing tradition for Tulsa Chapter and one that we love. Forrest Carpenter, the Volunteer Coordinator at the center, will once again join us at our December meeting to update us on current happenings at the Center.
Last year when Forrest joined us he gave us the good news that December 2010 was moving month for the center. Their new complex is 48,200 square feet on 20 acres. Housed on these 20 acres will be: residential-style cottages; administrative/activity building; gymnasium; basketball courts and play areas. This new facility allows each child to have individual sleeping areas and a private bath.
For members that aren’t familiar with the Laura Dester Children’s Center, it is where innocent children are taken when they have to be removed from a home for one reason or another. The main reasons children are placed at the center are abuse and neglect, but there are other reasons also. Parents could be injured or killed in an accident and there is no family locally with which to place the children. This scenario is rare, but it does happen occasionally. The ages at the center range from newborn to 18. Children at the center are there an average of 12 days, but some are there months. The center works closely with the foster care system, so if there are no foster homes available, the children have to stay at the center longer.
This Christmas please remember the children at the center. Gifts can be brought to the November or December chapter meeting. If you don’t have time to shop, I’m sure the center would accept monetary donations. Please do not wrap the gifts. Below is a list of gift suggestions, but anything is welcome. Thank you for your generosity.