There is No Greater Cause than Kids

My New Year’s Resolution this year was to be more generous, more giving and try to help those in need.

I’ve read and written many stories over the years and discovered how lucky I am. While learning about other people’s lives, I realized, in comparison, I’ve never really had a bad thing happen to me in my entire life.

I’ve started small to try and give back. I’ve made a more conscious effort to make people feel better about themselves.

Since, I’ve become involved with Patch supporting to help raise child abuse awareness.

Is there a better cause to fight for than children?

I couldn’t think of one.

In a mentioned how breast cancer awareness has grown. He said he hopes child abuse prevention can reach that level.

“Some of these kids don’t even get a chance at life,” he said.

There are many great causes and great events to be involved with these days, but I think child abuse should be near the top of the list. It was disheartening to read a story about a not too far from Dominick’s former home, just before the murder trial began.

Calhoun said he believes the awareness efforts of his family and their supporters have stopped others from committing child abuse and that he will continue the fight, including getting Dominick’s Law, which includes harsher penalties for child abusers, passed.

Even from the outside, watching events being conducted in Dominick’s memory and seeing his face on T-shirts, websites and other places has been inspiring.  I hope that fight continues and someday child abuse prevention can be brought to the forefront. (Did you even know April is child abuse prevention month?)

I also recently watched Blake Mycoskie speak about TOMS Shoes at Oakland University. For every pair of shoes his company sells, he gives a pair away to a child in need. Some countries don't allow children to attend school without shoes. His speech, and video of children in Argentina receiving shoes, inspired me to buy my first pair of TOMS, which I am anxiously waiting to be shipped. The shoes may be a little more expensive than a normal pair, but I can take joy that every time I slip on mine, a child somewhere is slipping on a pair as well.

Also, today people all across the world will be participating in “One Day Without Shoes.” The day is meant to spread awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life.  Will you be participating?

(If so, show your support by uploading your photo or video of you without shoes here by clicking “Upload photos and video”)

We report a lot of negative stories on Fenton Patch, including murders, deaths, and crime, but I’d much rather write about positive things, like people in the community trying to make a difference, especially if that difference affects children.

Do you know of someone trying to help children? If so, we want to know, because there is no greater cause.