St. Clair County Child Abuse and Neglect Council raises record amount through Community Roof-Sit

The Blue Water Area community raised a record amount for the St. Clair County Abuse and Neglect Council during its Community Roof-Sit for Kids last month. 

The roof-sit raised more than $165,000 for the council over the week-long event. Last year, the roof-sit raised $156,473, including donations after the roof-sit was over, said St. Clair County Child Abuse and Neglect Council Executive Director Sherry Archibald. 

She said there were 602 individual donations over the week, plus walk-up donations to their booth outside the MiMutual Mortgage building, most likely putting the number of individual donations close to 650.

"We are blessed to live in a community that is so supportive and understands the magnitude and importance of the work that we're doing," she said. "We just can't say thank you enough."

Archibald said the roof-sit provides about a third of the council's annual operating budget, and funds programs the council would otherwise not be able to do. 

Archibald said those programs include education programming, advocacy services for families, trauma-focused mental health therapy and forensic interviews for alleged victims of abuse. 

New programs added this year include a teen empowerment yoga series, which provides healing to victims of sexual abuse. Archibald said the program helps victims learn about and appreciate their bodies after trauma. 

The funds raised also support programs such as therapy groups and interactive journaling classes. While the council's first priority is prevention, these programs help victims of abuse and neglect heal from their trauma and lead healthy lives, Archibald said.

The council accepts donations year-round. To donate, click the donation button at sccstopchildabuse.org/get-involved/#make-a-donation, or by mailing or delivering donations to 1107 Military St., Port Huron, Michigan 48060. Checks should be made payable to the St. Clair County Child Abuse and Neglect Council. 

Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com.