April events focus on kids

Child Abuse Awareness Month, The Week of the Young Child, National Library Week...in a busy month, these particular events focus specifically on kids. Several activities have already begun in conjunction with Child Abuse Awareness - businesses are holding contests or providing donation sites and many are donating to the big event - the 20th annual Bids for Kids Auction, broadcast live on local Comcast Channel 3 Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26.

But beginning this weekend, numerous other activities kick off The Week of the Young Child and National Library Week, observed concurrently beginning April 12.The Anderson Public Library takes advantage of the dual awareness opportunity with numerous activities, including D.E.A.R. Day (Drop Everything and Read!).

D.E.A.R. Day activities include Story Hour Rooms from 10 - 11:30 and 2 - 3:30 Saturday, featuring celebrity guest readers from the community, tips on reading aloud and suggestions for stories to share. On April 14, 15 and 21, APL will host a series of workshops on Every Child Ready to Read, which instructs parents and caregivers about early literacy and how they can encourage their children's development. These events are scheduled during the noon hour to facilitate attendance by working parents/caregivers. April 14 focuses on children ages 0-2; April 15 on ages 2 to 3; and April 21 on ages 4 to 5. Attendees even get free stuff, courtesy of Target and the Madison County Community Foundation.

Another public reading event that focuses on early childhood development will be held from noon to 3 Saturday, April 19 at Mounds Mall. This one is under development with Anderson Community Schools and the Community Alliance to Promote Education (CAPE).

Bids for Kids pre-auction events also get underway April 19 with a spring concert featuring Lori Graves at Lambert's Music Center. The cost is $10 and there are two performance options: 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. The Putt an End to Child Abuse Golf Outing will be held at Killbuck Golf Club on April 22 with lunch at 11 and a shot gun start at noon. Cost is $75 for individuals/$300 for a team of 4.

The Bids for Kids auction begins live at Reardon Auditorium and broadcast on Local Comcast Channel 3 at 6 p.m. Friday, April 25. Interspersed with the opportunity to bid on a wide variety of items from the practical to the collectible to the extravagant will be highlights of local talent and local goodwill, as well as the sobering need to work to end child abuse in our communities. The action continues until midnight and then picks up again Saturday at 10 a.m. until midnight.

Bids for Kids supports the Children' Bureau/Exchange Club Family Resource Center, a United Way certified agency serving families at risk of child abuse or neglect in our community. Whatever your participation in these community activities, please take with you the message to nurture the children in your life.

Although not specifically kid-focused, a couple of other events on the 26th and 27th will help kids as well as adults who live in poverty. Taking Steps to Reach Others will benefit George Morrisett Center for Community Services in Elwood and begins with registration at 8 a.m. Call the center for more information, 552-5570. And Sunday, the East Central Indiana Homeward Bound 5K begins at 2, with registration open at noon. Check it out online at www.homewardboundindiana.org. If you don't have a team, join the LIVE UNITED team. We'll be glad to have you.