It's Time for a Cold One or 300

It's mid October and that can only mean one thing. It's time to sample a few cold ones at the annual Lighthouse Beer Festival. With over 100 breweries, 300 beers to sample, food vendors, and live music, this is definitely THE place to be this weekend in Wilmington. So, mark your social calendars for Saturday, October 20th from 1-5 and be prepared to drink a few brewskies for a great cause. And seriously, for only $35 a ticket, this is a true bargain because you can sample as many beers as you want. Click Here for ticket information.

This is the 11th year for the festival, and this year marks the 10th year The Carousel Center has been the recipient of the proceeds of this awesome event. The Carousel Center has been so fortunate to receive such amazing support from community partners and local businesses such as Lighthouse Beer and Wine. When Jason, the owner of Lighthouse Beer and Wine, was asked why he chose The Carousel Center to be the beneficiary of the proceeds from the event, he replied, "because it's a cause he believes in, they do good work, and it's a local organization run by committed individuals".

Jason has been so kind to organize this festival, so, we hope to see hundreds and hundreds of folks out there on Saturday taste testing beers from breweries all over the place. Who knows, you may even find a new favorite.   

Child Abuse is Nondiscriminatory

Child abuse is one of those rare anomalies in that it is an equal opportunity employer? What's that you say? Well what that means is child abuse is not like some other crimes which are more prevalent in certain racial, ethnic or socioeconomic groups, which may be easier to ignore or push under the rug because you don't "fit in" with those groups. Rather, child abuse is nondiscriminatory. It occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions, and at all levels of education. Therefore, child abuse affects every single one of us. It affects YOU. Child abuse is not a problem for those people who live on the other side of town, or go to that other church, or have a different color of skin than you. Child abuse is right here in your own community and may be closer than you ever thought.

• a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds.
• more than 5 children die every day as a result of child abuse.
• approximately 80% of children who die of abuse are under the age of 4.
• more than 90% of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way.
• about 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.

These statistics should alarm you! So please do not think child abuse is someone else's problem, because it is OUR problem. Please be aware and pay attention to the many programs that raise funds for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. Attend a fundraiser, volunteer an hour or two of your time, check out a website devoted to child advocacy and look at their wish list, and if you are able, donate an item. Children are the most helpless victims, and we ALL need to secure the best future possible for those who need us the most.

Statistics: Here

How We Came To Be.

About 14 years ago, a small group of dedicated individuals got together because of a vision of an amazing nurse who recognized the need for a child friendly environment where abused children would be welcomed and cared for by specially trained professionals. No more cold, sterile, emergency room visits, where the victim would become even more traumatized by the frantic ER and be subjected to an exam by staff not certified to handle such delicate cases, thus risking crucial evidence being overlooked or compromised. A non-profit corporation was formed, funds were raised, a board of directors was put into place, a tiny house was rented, and through blood, sweat and tears, The Carousel Center opened its doors in the year 2000.

In the 12 years since The Carousel Center has been serving abused children in southeastern North Carolina, it has gone through many changes. The Center itself has moved locations a few times due to space constraints, and it now serves 8 counties. Wouldn't the real success story be though if the Carousel Center was forced out of business, meaning there was no longer a need for such services? Sadly, that is not the reality of the world in which we live. Last year alone there were 700 total visits at the Center. Every year The Carousel Center sees 250 new children, 82% are less than 11 years old and 78% have allegations of sexual abuse.

The wonderful staff of The Carousel Center recognizes the need, and takes this responsibility very seriously. No matter how many changes the Center has undergone, one thing remains constant, and that is the commitment to providing a child friendly environment to victims of child abuse. Children wear hand painted t-shirts instead of hospital gowns, and are given stuffed animals to hug during the physical exam. The staff asks age appropriate questions in order to satisfy the needs of law enforcement, prosecution and social services. All interested parties may watch and ask questions to the interviewer through a discreet headset to decrease trauma to the victim by eliminating the need to repeatedly tell their story. The Center provides the victims and their family the necessary tools to begin the healing process. The child's physical and emotional well being will always be The Center's top priority.