.The East Lyme Auxiliary of the Child and Family Agency held its yearly supper meeting at Café Sol in Niantic on Nov. 13, 2013. One of the main activities was the presentation to the Child and Family Agency of a check for $3,600, funds which were raised by the group at the Celebrity Author Luncheon they had sponsored in September.
The check was accepted by Lyn Fairfied-Sonn, the Director of Development. She also presented two staff members from the Agency- Jen Messina and Karen Gills to speak to the group. Ms. Messina, the Director of Youth Services, spoke about the after school and summer programs which the Agency provides. These programs provide the children with snacks, supervise homework, provide needed tutoring, and expose them to creative activities such as sewing, crafts, and cooking. She also mentioned the many theatrical presentations that the children create and present.
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Ms. Giles, a Community Worker, mentioned that community workers and volunteers give help with homework and tutoring in reading and mathematics during the after school program. In addition to instructing the children, the community workers also communicate with the principals of the students to monitor their school progress. She also mentioned the important benefits the children receive from the theatre program. Helping the children to overcome their stage-fright, Miss Karen has-herself- taken part in the presentations for many years.
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The Agency also provides programs that deal with child abuse prevention, the treatment of family violence, teen pregnancy, children’s health care, childcare, parent education and children’s mental health. Their staff of over one hundred-seventy includes social workers, physicians, teachers, psychologists, nurse practitioners, community workers, teachers’ aides, administrators and support staff. All of these people are dedicated to providing for the unmet needs of children and their families.
Sally Myers and Jane McLane, the co-chairpersons of the Auxiliary, as they presented the donation, re-iterated how proud the group was to be able to support such a worthwhile endeavor. As the Agency has written, “We believe in the children and families we serve. We believe…”
