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.
We need two white noise machines to ensure privacy during meetings with families and larger groups in our conference rooms.
Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go, Little Einsteins
An annual subscription to Reader's Digest for our parents to read while they wait for their children
The Center is in need of 3 sets of Block-Play Professionals from Constructive Playthings for children to use in play therapy.
For children ages 10 and older
Vouchers for local transportation companies who can give rides to families coming to the Center to receive services
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.
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.
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.
A banner stand with telescoping light for outreach events (approx. $750)
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.
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.
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).
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
Our volunteers support staff by performing office tasks, answering telephones, and playing with children in the waiting room. Volunteer Opportunities
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)
Purchase and Spring installation of industrial-grade heat tape along the north and east sides of the building and the downspout
Gift cards to Office Max, Staples, Office Depot
reams of white, 92 bright, 20 lb., 8 1/2 x 11 copy paper
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.
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!