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Over 300,000 children in California live with the trauma of being separated from their parent in prison. Children struggle with stability and self esteem and feel shame behind their loss. By reuniting children with their parents in prison, the Get On The Bus (GOTB) organization and the Rotary Club of Placentia will give children the important opportunity to see and touch their parent face to face. Bringing children to their moms and dads also increases the likelihood that when they return home to their families, they will be less inclined to re-offend.
This project has several ways to engage Rotary members. Each child and their caregiver will be given a travel bag to take with them on the long trip to the prison. Most buses take approximately 50 persons. Club members will work together to stuff and personalize these bags, as well as help put together snack items. Several club members will ride overnight with these families to the prison and enter with them in a volunteer capacity to help give out lunch and work on arts and crafts with the children. In addition, club members may also be engaged to call the children the week before the trip to confirm the important details.
The Rotary Club of Placentia will include a stuffed animal with a Rotary logo on it in the bag for each child to help calm them after their visit on the long trip home. The club will also document the event on social media and the club's website. An article is planned for the local paper. Detailed cost and schedule documents are attached.
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