A local organization that serves vulnerable children and their families is asking the community to help raise $3 million, as D.A. Blodgett St. John’s Tuesday launched the public phase of the “Together for Kid’s Campaign," a fundraising effort to consolidate DA Blodgett St. John’s locations into one large campus their services to children and families at their Knapp Corner location on Grand Rapids Northeast side.
According to officials, the expanded campus is a win/win, as DA Blodgett St. John’s will not only save $2 million over the course of the next two decades, but more importantly, staff at the upgraded facility will be better able to provide to vulnerable or abused children.
Charles Lott, is a campaign co-chair. He says, child abuse and neglect has grown over 27 percent in Michigan since 2012, with approximately 1,800 Kent County children experience abuse and neglect last year.
“So just today we launched the public phase of the campaign and our goal is to raise 10 Million dollars to help provide our agency to help serve a lot of these kids that are down the street, they are in our neighborhoods, and I think so more that we realize, the abuse and neglect that does happen right here in our communities, and again those numbers are growing. So we would ask that you look into your hearts, and any ability you may have (to help,”) Lott said.
When finished, the expanded campus will feature expanded programing space, administrative offices, and educational and wellness space for the children and youth served by the organization.