The sign at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Medford features a tag line that would do a Madison Avenue advertising agency proud. It says, “Healing Children at the Speed of Love.” When I read it for the first time, I felt a pang in my heart that was both poignant and affirming. I was saddened that so many children needed help – and gratified that this remarkable place was there for them.
The Children’s Advocacy Center serves abused children from three counties in a compassionate, innovative way. It provides a home-like environment where children can disclose what they are experiencing and receive coordinated support services to begin their healing process. This grassroots effort was born of love, and it continues to thrive on it. The sense of welcome and caring is palpable the minute you walk in the door, creating a safe haven for those who need it.
I knew next to nothing about the Center until I attended a neighbor’s birthday party. Over appetizers Ken Snoke and I were talking about the “Community Table” he added to the Saturday Farmers Market at the Courthouse in Jacksonville, where people can simply show up with homemade items they want to sell or trade. Before the entrée was served I had decided to sell my handmade collage greeting cards at the table and donate all of the money to the Center.
Baskets decorated like cabbages from Harry & David provided an eye-catching way to display the ten dozen cards I ended up making. We arrived early to set up our greeting card garden. Then at the speed of, well, love, every single card had sold by noon.
I experienced a sense of unity and downright joy as I interacted with everyone who visited our table. A member of the Garden Club told us that when they found out the Center needed pajamas, they provided 32 pair. Dr. Kerri Hecox, the Center’s designated medical provider and Jacksonville resident, stopped by with her husband and two children to express her appreciation for what we were doing. Kerri mentioned that the donated money would be used to buy urgently needed backpacks for all ages, which will be filled with basics such as soap, shampoo, brushes, toothpaste and toothbrushes. Right then and there we began to plan our next Farmers Market sale.
A friend appeared with a plate of rhubarb muffins from the bake sale and another one brought gloriously decorated cupcakes for “dessert.” We drank coffee to warm our fingers, chatted with vendors and neighbors, and made plans for our follow-up fund raiser. I tipped the couple playing laid-back music and bought bags of organic lavender for summer ice cream and shortbread. Then right after the last greeting card was on its way to a new home, reinforcements arrived to help us pack up.
Only later did it occur to me that all morning we had been involved in healing with the speed of love. In a community full of people with plenty of love in their hearts, anything is possible.
Gates McKibbin moved to Jacksonville after working and living in the Bay Area for three decades as a consultant to major corporations. This column contains her musings about this remarkable community and her new life far away from the fast lane.