The Cookeville Junior Woman’s Club targeting basic needs among local children this week with restaurant fundraisers and a donation drive supporting child advocacy organizations.
Club President Tish Seidler said Child Advocacy Week calls attention to children whose needs can go unnoticed, including abused or neglected children, foster children and others who need additional support.
“This week we really want the community to realize it doesn’t take something big to make a difference,” Seidler said, “Often times the smallest gesture can make a difference and that’s where the dine out week came to be.”
Seidler said the requests demonstrate how some of the most significant needs facing children involve everyday necessities. Seidler identified literacy and personal needs as two areas that require continued attention in Putnam County.
“So books are a big thing, we still need to get books in the hands of the littles,” Seidler said. “I know we’ve talked to, PEP about that, I think they’re doing a pre-K library because those littles need that opportunity to read.”
Seidler said the club launched its first Dine Out for Child Advocacy Week fundraiser to benefit the Upper Cumberland Child Advocacy Center and Putnam County Family Resource Center. Participating restaurants donate a portion of proceeds connected to the fundraiser.
“We know they’ve had a need for over a year and so this is our time to turn to them and say, how can we help you?” Seidler said.
Seidler said the fundraiser continues Wednesday at Logan’s Roadhouse, Thursday at Chili’s and Friday at Outback Steakhouse. Seidler said customers should tell their server they are participating in Dine Out Week so their purchase gets counted toward the fundraiser.
Seidler said the club is also collecting new underwear and socks for the Monterey Head Start program after asking the organization to identify a specific need.
“We had a little bit of money that we would be able to help them with but that wasn’t enough, and they said that really that that was the need that they had,” Seidler said.
The club rotates its support among nonprofits and asks organizations directly where assistance can make a difference. Seidler said that approach allows members to respond to needs identified by the people working with children.
“I think that child feels valued, they feel loved in the simplest ways, they feel cared for, and that’s where the adults come in,” Seidler said. “That’s where the advocacy comes in.”
Child Advocacy Week serves as a nationwide GFWC Junior Special Program, but Seidler said the Cookeville club’s work continues beyond the observance.
“It’s not just this week, it’s every day of the year,” Seidler said.