Open house, donor appreciation event held Sunday at Child Advocacy Center

Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter
·2 min read

COLDWATER - The Child Advocacy Center at 625 N. Michigan Ave. is $79,000 from paying off its mortgage, said Kim Hemker, Branch County Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence executive director.

BCCADV used the Sue Nagle "Help from Above" Golf Ball Drop to show off the center and honor donors who made the center a reality.

“We so appreciate everybody's help and support in this. It's been a busy year,” Hemker said.

A wall in the lobby of the two-story former Hope Health Center displays the dozens of names of people, businesses, and organizations who contributed to the purchase. 

Named Lillian’s Place to honor of donor Lillian Creal and her family, Hemker said, “It's way easier to say to a child ‘Hey, we're going to Lillian's place’ rather than the Child Advocacy Center.”

Kids were recruited to pick up the numbered golf balls after the drop.
Kids were recruited to pick up the numbered golf balls after the drop.

Counselors and forensic examiners use the center to interview and counsel children who have been abused or sexually assaulted.

There were 65 child abuse case interviews in Branch County in 2022, Hemker said.

Before the Coldwater center opened Jan. 1, children had to travel to Marshall or Battle Creek to be interviewed.

And the Coldwater center will soon be helping more children.

St. Joseph County and BCCADV will draft a memo of understanding so children services from that county can use the facility.  The Coldwater center is closer and more available than others in the region.

"They will be able to do their interviews here in this location," Hemker announced Sunday. 

The Sue Nagle golf ball drop was held during the Sunday showcase. Donors purchased tickets at a $10 contribution in the decade-old event.

The Coldwater Board of Public Utilities provided a bucket truck to drop 1,000 golf balls onto the lawn.

The ball closest to the “hole” marker was purchased by Sue Adams, who won $1,000. Kathy Holt won $250 with her ball farthest away from the hole. 

Prior story Branch County Child Advocacy Center opens

Hemker and her board had originally planned a pole barn-type building across the street at the Shelter House for the center, but when the health building went on the market, donors and supporters raised all but $79,000 of the $494,000 price, less than the cost of the planned construction.

Hemker expects to pay off the mortgage before next March or sooner.

Covering operational costs now is a goal and current and new sponsors are stepping up.

Clemens Food Group, already a major sponsor, has plans for an annual golf outing on Oct. 1 this year. The event will be on a Sunday so that Clemens staff can participate.

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Coldwater Noon Exchange Club will continue to run the annual Duck Race as a fundraiser.

---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Open house, donor appreciation event held Sunday at Child Advocacy Center