Support Children in Louisiana's Justice System!

At the Louisiana Center for Children's Rights, we go to the mat for our kids every day -- in the courtroom, in the classroom, and in the community. But sometimes what stands between our kids and success are barriers seemingly small, but insurmountable to a family that's just scraping by.

Randy keeps getting suspended from school for dress code violations because he can't afford a new uniform. Jackie's family lost their home, but can't pay for the rental truck to move in with relatives. Nelson, newly released after having previously been sentenced as a child to die in prison, can't afford to set up a new home.

No child should sink deeper into the justice system because they cannot afford the small costs that matter so much to their success. Sometimes our staff covers these costs out of pocket -- in some cases literally giving kids the shoes off our feet. But this isn't sustainable, and these $50, $100, and $500 costs can really add up.

This holiday season, I'm rallying to raise money for LCCR's Small Favors Fund -- a reserve used to help our children and former juvenile lifers cover the small costs that stand in the way of opportunity.

Here are some of the things we bought last year

• Books for 21 kids
• School uniforms for 10 kids, and other clothes for another eight kids
• A client haircut
• Medical supplies and a doctor’s co-pay
• Emergency housing expenses for three clients, including a former juvenile lifer
• Five state IDs
• Four birth certificates
• Bus fare for a client to move to his father’s home
• Bus fare for a parent to visit her child in custody upstate
• Gas for a family to come to court
• Lots and lots of bus passes
• Two small birthday meals for kids
• A card trick set for a client
• Frames to display client graduation diplomas
• An alarm clock
• Commissary deposits for two juvenile lifers
• Client snacks to keep in the office
• School supplies for three kids
• Lots and lots of client visits

Vulnerable children are the ones most likely to be pulled into the justice system, and face the biggest obstacles in exiting it. I can spare a few bucks to cover the small costs that will help a child leave the justice system behind for good. I hope you can, too.

Together, let's rally to remove obstacles to our kids' success... and change lives for the better. MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY!