First Book puts books in courthouse waiting room
Friends of Foster Children of Southwest Florida Help Create New Children’s Waiting Room
The Friends of Foster Children of Southwest Florida (FFC), at the request of the Honorable Elizabeth Krier, and under the leadership of Vanessa Estrada, FFC Office and Program Administrator, has successfully helped to complete and co-sponsor the renovation and furnishing of a new child-friendly waiting room at the Collier County Courthouse.
The room will be used for children who are part of a dependency case. The room will provide a safe, fun and educational place for children to wait while dependency court is in session. First Book-Collier County has agreed to refill the bookshelves as needed, putting a steady stream of new books into the hands of children utilizing the room. The books are for them to read and own and the children will be encouraged to take the books home with them if they so choose.
Several companies and organizations were instrumental in seeing to the completion of the new waiting room and special thanks are extended to the room sponsors: Mabri Painting Inc., Classroom Plus, Scholastic, City Furniture, and the Collier County School Board. Many hands were needed to physically install the different elements of the room and the completion was handled by volunteer installers: John Walter, Fabian Estrada and Cliff Kobrin.
“A special thank you to all who helped get the room ready,” said Estrada. “The children will now have a cozy educational environment to attend while court is in session. We just want to thank everyone again for their help and support on this project. It is truly an amazing team effort.”
The mission of the FFC is to provide abused, neglected and abandoned children in Southwest Florida with the social, educational and financial support the state does not. FFC’s support ranges from tutoring or after-school programs to enrichment activities that nurture the child’s talents and passions. For more information or to support the FFC, visit www.friendsoffosterchildren.net or call 239-262-1808.
This story is contributed by a member of the community and is neither endorsed nor affiliated with Naples Daily News.
– by E. Sue Huff – July 3, 2014
