Local Businesses Accepting Toy Donations For Abused Children

From the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office:

Two local businesses are encouraging patrons and the public to donate new toys this holiday season to benefit sexually abused children who visit the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center.

• The Mary Wlodarski Insurance Agency in Naperville is hosting its First Annual Holiday Gift Drive and has generously named the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center as one its beneficiaries. Those who wish to participate may drop off new books, toys of any value, stocking stuffers or gift cards at the agency’s office, 2948 Artesian Road, Suite 104 in Naperville. The drive runs through Dec. 17.
• Heartland Bank and Trust Company also is collecting toys for the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center. New toys and stuffed animals may be dropped off at both of Heartland’s Plainfield locations:14901 Route 59 at the intersection of Route 59 and Route 126, and 5650 Caton Farm Road. The drive runs through Dec. 18.

The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center has been providing hope, healing and justice to abused children since it was established in1995 by Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow. He established the center as a 501-(c)-3 charitable organization to improve investigations into cases involving the sexual abuse of children.

Today, when children make outcries of sexual abuse, they are brought to the center, where trained and compassionate forensic interviewers obtain accurate statements in a neutral, non-suggestive and child-friendly environment. Interviews recorded at the center have been used in the successful prosecution of thousands of child predators over the last two decades.

In addition, the center’s experienced staff provides children and families with counseling, medical exams, legal advocacy, community resource referrals and other social services to enable the healing process to begin.

“It’s wonderful when our local businesses partner with the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center during the holiday season to make life a little brighter for children who are struggling through the trauma of abuse,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “I would like to extend a huge thank you to the Mary Wlodarski Insurance Agency and Heartland Bank and Trust Company for extending a helping hand to children at Christmas.”

For more information regarding the toy drives, please contact the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center at 815-774-4565.