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Poshard Foundation Distributes Funds for Abused and Neglected Kids

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Brad Palmer, WSIU Radio
Agencies receiving grant funds from the Poshard Foundation gathered at John A. Logan College on April 30, 2018.

On the final day of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Poshard Foundation doled out $100,000 dollars in grants funds.

The money went to 30 southern Illinois agencies serving abused and neglected children.
Glenn Poshard says the foundation wants agencies to use the funds to help normalize a child's life.
 
"Many of the things you heard here today were things that are activity-oriented ways that they're going to use these funds."

Lindsey Bullman with Night's Shield Children's Crisis Shelter in West Frankfort says they want children to be able to do things that most children take for granted.
 
"We will still be able to provide normalcy through going to the movies or going out to eat or doing birthday parties or doing those little, extra things that maybe they've never gotten to do before."
 
Bullman says Night's Shield used to be an emergency shelter for kids in DCFS care. Starting in January, they launched a new program focused more on preventing child abuse. She says they've helped 34 kids so far in the new program.

Jeannine Woods with the Cairo Women's Shelter says she'll user the money to help with program activities, especially in light of the exodus of residents from two Alexander County Housing Authority complexes.
 
"As a result of the relocation of the different people that we serve that was in public housing, they're still coming back to our program for the activities they were used to coming to."
 
Jo Poshard says the people with these 30 agencies deserve credit for their dedication in working in such difficult circumstances.
 
"The things that they see on a daily basis would be things that we would experience in a nightmare. Those are the cases they deal with all the time."
 
Poshard says child abuse rates in the southern 20 counties are sometimes double or triple of those statewide.

 

As a news producer and news anchor on All Things Considered, Brad provides the listeners with a recap of the day's top local and state news as well as breaking news at any given time. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
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