Sisters rallies to support Together For Children

Last weekend, about 80 Sisters area residents raised their bidding numbers to make sure Together For Children stays in existence to help local families.

The Fiesta de Cinco de Mayo Benefit and Auction, held at Black Butte Ranch, netted about $13,000 for the organization.

Initiated in 1987, Together For Children (TFC) is a nonprofit agency which has served more than 2,700 families in Central Oregon. The program helps parents cope with the stresses of raising kids and gets little ones ready to learn. The program no longer receives state funds and now relies on tuition paid on a sliding scale, grants, and fund-raising.

Angela Sitz chaired the annual auction for the second year in a row. She said TFC board members and staff put in many hours to make last Saturday’s event a success. She also credits the support of more than 125 businesses that donated items to the silent and oral auction.

“Without this amount of community support, this event could not have happened!” said Sitz.

As a mother, she says TFC has been very valuable to her.

“Children don’t come with a manual. It is great to have support during the first three years and to have your questions answered about all the crazy things your kids do - sleeping problems, eating problems, tantrums, the list goes on and on!” said Sitz.

She has appreciated meeting other parents who share similar experiences and tell how they get through problems.

“It also helps you know that your child is ‘normal’ when someone in the group speaks up and says ‘oh my child did that too,’” she said.

Sitz said the success of both the program and the recent fundraiser is largely due to the dedication of executive director Edie Jones.

“Her undying support of this program and many hours above and beyond her contract are what keeps TFC going!”

TFC is available for families with children from birth to three years old. One day a week, families meet at The Little Cloverdale Preschool near Sisters, or in Bend, Redmond or La Pine.

For the first hour, parents and children interact together.

Then parents leave the room for a second hour of parent education on topics ranging from understanding a child’s temperament, to encouraging constructive play and good communication.

For more information on Together for Children programs call 389-9317.