Wish List
Clients of the Children’s Assessment Center are not charged for the services they receive. In order to support staff and maintain quality services, the Center welcomes the donation of new items from its wish list. Donations can be dropped off at the Center Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Hearing the Story
- White Noise Machine
We need two white noise machines to ensure privacy during meetings with families and larger groups in our conference rooms.
Healing the Pain
- DVDs of children's television shows
Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go, Little Einsteins
- Reader's Digest
An annual subscription to Reader's Digest for our parents to read while they wait for their children
- Play Therapy dolls
The Center is in need of 3 sets of Block-Play Professionals from Constructive Playthings for children to use in play therapy.
- Handheld electronic games
For children ages 10 and older
- Rides for medical exams and counseling appointments
Vouchers for local transportation companies who can give rides to families coming to the Center to receive services
- Gas Cards or Bus Tickets
Many of our families live oustide of the Grand Rapids metro area and must drive a good distance into the Center for counseling appointments. So that the price of fuel does not hinder their healing, the Center provides families with $10 gas cards to local gas stations (Meijer is especially helpful). The Center also provides bus tickets for families who must take the bus to the Center for their appointments. One-way bus tickets can be purchased at the main bus station in blocks of 10 for $15 or blocks of 20 for $30. Tickets must be purchased with cash, and a 24-hour notice is required.
- Journals
Our teens use journals in both their individual and their group therapy. Due to a larger number of participants, we have an urgent need for lined, bound journals for our teen group beginning this summer. Three dozen journals will last us through summer counseling.
Halting the Cycle
- Gift Cards to Schuler Books, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.com
Parents are often at a loss for how to talk to their children about body safety or what to do now that their child has been victimized. Gift cards are used to purchase resource books for parents and children.
- Outreach Banner Stand
A banner stand with telescoping light for outreach events (approx. $750)
Contact Center to purchase
- Darkness 2 Light Scholarships
Darkness 2 Light presentations are offered throughout the community for adults. Attendees are taught to recognize signs of child sexual abuse and ways to prevent children from being victimized. Presentations include take-home materials. There is a cost of $10 per person for materials, and this cost often prohibits individuals from attending. Please consider donating to provide scholarships so that finances do not prevent adults in our community from attending these important trainings.
Furthering the Mission
- Volunteers to Maintain Grounds
We are looking for volunteers who will do light cleaning and upkeep of our grounds a couple of hours each week, from light weeding, to cleaning up trash, to sweeping the sidewalks.
- Expo Marker Board Towlettes
In order to properly clean the white board in our lobby so it is ready for the next child artist, we need to use these special Expo Marker Board Towlettes (6"X9", 50-pack bottles of towlettes).
- Guests for Walk in Their Shoes tours
Join staff, board members, and client parents for a Walk in the Shoes of our clients as you and your friends take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Center. WITS Schedule
- Volunteers
Our volunteers support staff by performing office tasks, answering telephones, and playing with children in the waiting room. Volunteer Opportunities
- Additional furniture and supply needs
Please visit target.com to see the Center's wish list there.
(If the above link doesn't work, please go to www.target.com. First Name: Ch; Last Name: Ce; State: MI)
- Heat Tape
Purchase and Spring installation of industrial-grade heat tape along the north and east sides of the building and the downspout
- Gift Cards for office supplies
Gift cards to Office Max, Staples, Office Depot
- Copy Paper
reams of white, 92 bright, 20 lb., 8 1/2 x 11 copy paper
- Crayola Washable Crayons, regular or large size
Our lobby features a large white board for our child clients to use while they wait for interview, medical, and counseling appointments. These special WASHABLE Crayola Crayons are perfect for all the artwork they create.
- Medical Filing Volunteer
We are looking for a volunteer who can work approximately four hours per week for a minimum of two years. This is the perfect opportunity for a retiree!
