Building for Change in Niagara!

What a better way to start our blog, then to talk about one of our latest community events!

Everyone was all smiles at the end of the day. This was
the family who won our playhouse in the auction.

Niagara's first Playhouse Competition was on April 19th and it was all about building for change, as it kicked off National Victims of Crime Awareness Week. Along with Parklane and Gatta Homes, we built our own custom playhouses to be auctioned off to support Victim Services Niagara and the Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre Niagara.

The Kristen French CACN is a safe place to help, heal and end abuse for children and youth who have been physically or sexually abused, become the targets of internet luring, or who have witnessed violence. Before Kristen French CACN existed, a case of child abuse was generally handled by taking the child to different locations - to medical facilities; police facilities; offices at Family and Children’s Services. This round of visits is confusing, upsetting and is detrimental to the child.

The Kristen French CACN improves on this process. They provide a child friendly, non-threatening single location where those involved in the investigation come to the child, and supportive services such as counselling are offered. In addition to their “safe haven” mandate, they also take on important advocacy and prevention roles. Taken together, these activities fulfill Niagara’s Children’s Charter where they commit to looking after the children’s fundamental needs so they are better able to contribute towards creating a civic community. Today’s children will be the leaders of the future!

Everyone involved with the event was amazing, especially Laila Eman! Helping to create this day of family fun with Laila, was Angela Arsenio (Executive Director, Victims Services Niagara), Janet Handy (Executive Director, Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre Niagara), and an amazing team of volunteers. The whole day would not have been possible without them, and the playhouses would not have been possible without the event's official sponsor, Penner Building Centre, who graciously donated all of the building supplies. (Thank you!)

The event was such a great way to bring awareness to both Victim Services Niagara and the Kristen French Advocacy Centre Niagara, we really hope that this becomes an annual event for the community. We had so much fun with our team, and the cherry on top of the day - we won first place in the competition! Check out our Facebook page to see more pictures of the day and our playhouse: www.facebook.com/RinaldiHomes

What a great way to support the community! Danielle, Amanda, Franco, Ken,
and Victor had a little fun with our finished product before it was auctioned off!