Clearfield County child advocacy center gears up for Fall Festival

— Courtesy photo

By Andy Stine

astine@altoonamirror.com

The Child Advocacy Center of Clearfield County will be holding its sixth annual Fall Festival from 10 a.m. To 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Copper Cork Event Center. The center was formerly the Knights of Columbus Hall.

The fall festival is the CAC’s biggest fundraising event of the year, according to Kellie Jackson, who serves as the MDT coordinator (multi-disciplinary team) for the Child Advocacy Center.

“We have over 40 vendors, close to 50, and by the time we’re done, we should be over 50,” Jackson said. “That ranges from food vendors to crafts, people that are making homemade items, baked goods, candles, 3D print items.”

In addition to the various vendors appearing at the event, there will also be five different food trucks outside of the Copper Cork Event Center. The organization will have a live band in Hardtack playing at the festival, and there will also be over 50 baskets to raffle off, as well as a couple 50-50s.

“It’s just a nice way for people to get together, and to support us at the Child Advocacy Center of Clearfield County,” Jackson said. “It’s a nice way for people to start Christmas shopping. We get little tidbits here and there that make nice stocking stuffers, or it gives kids a reason to come out and get stuff. It’s a nice family event.”

The Child Advocacy Center serves as a mutual safe place where kids that may have been abused can come talk to interviewers.

“We have two interviewers that give them a place to talk,” Jackson said. “We get referrals for potential child abuse, and it gives them a place to talk.”

One of the best parts for children that visit the center, which is located at 530 Spruce Street in Clearfield, is the organization’s therapy dog, Kirby. Kirby, who is a chocolate lab, was described as ‘a good boy’ by Jackson.

“If he’s not there, people are like, ‘Where’s the dog?’ Everyone looks forward to Kirby,” Jackson said. “He’s the hub of everything.”

The fall festival is the CAC’s biggest event of the year for fundraising. The organization relies heavily on grants and donations, but they also have people that donate throughout the year.

However, the fall festival is the event that generates the most money for the organization.

There are also a variety of prizes that are given away at the event.

“It seems to work out well,” Jackson said. “We get stuff from Pittsburgh Zoo, we get golf tickets from Treasure Lake. We try to get a variety. We try to change it up a little bit.”

Visit the organization on Facebook at Child Advocacy Center of Clearfield County.