A Thirty-One fundraiser was recently held at the Wetzel-Tyler Child Advocacy Center, Inc., in Paden City wherein over $1,400 in Thirty-One retail was purchased to benefit the center. Additionally, local Thirty-One Independent Consultant Denise Neff was able to furnish $700 in free specialty items which will be raffled off along with all of the other items collected during upcoming spaghetti dinner benefits planned for the center.

The first spaghetti dinner benefit is scheduled for April 29 at Boggs’ Pizza and Grill in Middlebourne from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. However, you need not be present to win the drawings, so if citizens would like they can purchase raffle tickets anytime by calling the center at 304-337-2120. In addition to giving away the Thirty-One products, CAC Director Shawna Griffin has plans to have many of the bags filled with various goodies from local businesses to sweeten the pot. Also, a silent auction will be held for some of the larger items. Raffle tickets will be sold at $1 each or six for $5.

The menu will include spaghetti, salad, bread, dessert and a drink. The cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children age 6-12; and free for children 5 and younger.

Winners of the drawings will be notified by phone following the second benefit dinner not yet scheduled for Wetzel County. More on that event will be published as plans are finalized.

Griffin and Neff wish to thank all those who participated in the Feb. 16 center fundraiser and helped to supply so many wonderful items for the upcoming raffle drawings. All proceeds from the benefit dinners and raffle tickets will help support the Child Advocacy Center.

The center recently relocated from Sistersville to 102 West Main Street, Paden City, in the office space adjoining the WesBanco Bank. The CAC is a child-focused, facility-based program in which representatives from many disciplines-law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical, and victim advocacy-work together conducting joint forensic interviews and making team decisions about the investigation, treatment, management, and prosecution of child abuse cases. CAC’s are community-based programs designed to meet the unique needs of a community, so no two CAC’s look exactly alike.

For victims and their families, the benefits of a CAC include consistent and prompt follow-up to abuse reports, consistent and compassionate support for the children and family, referrals to professionals with expertise in specialized fields, dramatically fewer victim interviews, and increased successful prosecutions.

CAC supporters include: Tyler County Prosecuting Attorney, Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney, Wetzel/Tyler County DHHR, Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department, Tyler County Sheriff’s Department, West Virginia State Police, New Martinsville Police Department, Paden City Police Department, Sistersville Police Department, Wetzel County Board of Education, Tyler County Board of Education, Wetzel County Family Resource Network, Tyler County Family Resources Network, Sistersville General Hospital, Wetzel County Hospital, Wetzel County Center for Children and Families, YWCA Domestic Violence Program, Wetzel/Tyler Victim Services, Tyler County Commission, and Wetzel County Commission. Furthermore, the Wetzel-Tyler Child Advocacy Center is partly funded by the Division of Justice and Community Services.

The Board of Directors for the organization include: President Tara Templeton, Vice President Lisa Fox, Secretary/Treasurer Debbie Tracy, Director Shawna Griffin, and members Patricia Keller, Pam Porfeli, Melody Glasscock, Sisty Walsh, Judy Yeager, Jonetta Thoms and Robin Keller.

For more information or to volunteer at the center, contact Program Director Shawna Griffin by phone at 304-337-2120 or by e-mail at wetzel_tylercac@yahoo.com.