Congratulations to the April 2014 Recipients of $500 worth in FREE Promotional Products!

CASA of Lea County recruits and trains community volunteers to provide unbiased advocacy for foster children from birth to 18 years of age. Each of these children are victims of abuse and/or neglect to the degree that the State of New Mexico is compelled to protect them by placing them in foster care. Incorporated in 2003, the agency's mission has evolved from solely providing volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates to the broader philosophy of making Lea County, New Mexico a safer environment for all children. They have helped close to 600 children in need of a safe, permanent, nurturing home. CASA of Lea County has received national recognition for their innovative volunteer recruitment program. For many of these children, their CASA volunteer is the only constant adult presence in their lives.

CASA of Lea County plans to use the promotional products they receive from MARCO to thank their volunteers for giving of their time and hearts to help abused and neglected children. You can learn more about this wonderful organization by visiting their website.
www.casaofleacounty.org

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that approximately 650 WW2 vets die each day. The Honor Flight Network was created to help our nations heroes fulfill one of their dreams.

The Honor Flight Network began in May of 2005. Earl Morse, a physician's assistant and a Retired Air Force Captain, started the program by offering World War 2 veterans the opportunity to visit the new monument created in their honor in Washington DC. Patients of his that would never have the opportunity due to health issues or financial concerns. Earl and 11 other pilots pledged their support. They picked up all costs for transportation, hotel stays and daily expenses for 12 lucky vets.

Today, over 100,000 veterans have traveled to Washington DC to view their memorial through the Honor Flight Network. There are 127 hubs in 41 states that allow you to register for this honor. The waiting list is long and the expenses are high.

The volunteers from the NE Tennessee branch wrote to us at MARCO. The volunteers have used our neck wallets for work events and felt they would be a great gift for the veterans. They want each veteran and guardian to have their own neck wallet to hold their name badge, id, room key and spare cash, all in one place. This will provide easy access while in a wheelchair or using a walker.

Our veteran heroes aren't asking for recognition...the volunteers of the Honor Flight Network just feel they DESERVE it!

The National Association Against Child Cruelty is a non-profit organization out of Oxnard California. The goal is to educate the public and raise awareness of the consequences of child cruelty and neglect. Their mission is to empower abused children or adults so they can express themselves and heal. Jane LeMond-Alvarez and her husband Leo are the founders who want to be part of the solution.

Jane is an adoptive mother of 3 severely abused children that she adopted 23 years ago. Jane & Leo speak on a variety of child abuse custody issues. They are part of an on-going national campaign to make legislative changes that would end the return of abused children to their abusers. They provide information to educate the public on Shaken Baby Syndrome as well as the dangers of leaving children in hot vehicles.

In CA alone, more than 120,000 children are reported abused every year. Authorities estimate that as many as half of all abuse cases go unreported and about half of those reported are not investigated. 10 children die each day because of abuse or neglect!

The organization's newest project, The Children's Wall of Tears, is a moving wall dedicated to all the innocent and helpless kids who are brutally killed through abuse and neglect. There is both an International and a US wall with names and photos of victims. The moving wall will travel the coast of California in April 2014.

To learn more or to donate to this amazing cause, please see their website.
www.thechildrenswalloftears.org

Step By Step believes that healthy moms leads to healthy babies, which creates healthy families & communities!

Step by Step provides a variety of services needed for high risk pregnant women. Their mission is to help each mom deliver a healthy baby, embrace positive parenting, and establish a safe home. Every woman can build on her strengths, choose health, see hope for her future and give back to others.

Home visits are provided to each mom by a professional nurse or counselor and a personalized plan of care is created to address her individual needs. Services are provided from the beginning of pregnancy and, depending on the needs, into the child's first year of life. Programs and resources offered include: life skills and parenting classes, one on one mentoring, family and community events, transitional housing, educational scholarships and much more.

To learn more about this wonderful organization, please see their website.
www.stepbystepnews.org