Just as the school year is fast approaching, the need for school supplies for the children of Kane County is coming up, as well.

Friends of the Kane County Child Advocacy Center invites you to join an effort to help Kane County children in need begin the school year with everything they require to succeed in the classroom.

KCAC will be collecting school supplies through Aug. 14. Supplies can be dropped off at any one of the following locations:

• Kane County Child Advocacy Center, 427 Campbell St., Geneva, IL 6013.
• Aurora Police Department, 1211 E. Indian Trail, Aurora, IL 60505
• Carpentersville Police Department, 1200 L.W. Besinger Drive, Carpentersville, IL,  60110
• North Aurora Police Department, 200 S. Lincolnway, North Aurora, IL 60542
• Montgomery Police Department, 10 Civic Center Ave., Montgomery, IL 60583

The Kane County Child Advocacy Center was established in 1994 to ensure the coordination and cooperation in the investigation of cases of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse of children. The Kane CAC investigates more than 300 cases of child sexual abuse each year.

Friends of the CAC is a non-profit organization that helps such families rebuild their lives after a report of child abuse. Friends of the CAC helps provide victim assistance including emergency needs such as clothing, food and shelter to those victims and their families.

About Friends of the CAC

In 2009, Kane County had the fifth-highest level of child sexual and physical abuse reports in Illinois.

Surprised? Don’t be. Abuse is one of those crimes that, in the interest of the children, is kept quiet. Fortunately, through the strong legal system and the work of the Child Advocacy Center, Kane has a strong track record of ensuring that justice is served.

But, while the system ends with justice, the child’s journey, and that of the child’s family, is just beginning. Rebuilding the lives requires support that starts at the report and continues well beyond the court’s verdict. Unfortunately, most families cannot afford the services that will give them the best chance of recovery and successful integration back into the community.

That’s where Friends of the Kane Child Advocacy Center comes in. We help families rebuild their lives through our programs, such as:

• Specialized counseling programs;
• Support groups for victim’s families;
• Adopt-A-Family programs (assist families with food, clothing, etc)
• Medical equipment purchase (reduce invasiveness of investigative procedures);
• And many others.

SOURCE: Friends of the Kane County Child Advocacy Center website