**The El Paso Center for Children (http://www.epccinc.org ) has a long and storied history in our community. It was created from a merger of the first two orphanages that opened in El Paso, St. Margaret’s in 1919 and the Southwestern Children’s Home in 1923. In 1982 the two orphanages merged and formed what is now known as the El Paso Center for Children. I am a long-time former board member for the Center and am now a Trustee of the Southwestern Children’s Home Trust, and I am tasked with helping to raise money for the many programs that are offered to our community, all free of charge. I often share that despite our long history, we are one of El Paso’s best kept secrets.

We offer a full continuum of care for services targeting youth and families and have historically provided shelter and a safe place for at risk youth. Some of the services offered through our Youth Outreach and Housing Division include:

• Drop-In Center - A place for homeless youth to access basic needs help, laundry facilities, shower facilities or for just a warm meal and a place to relax and be off the streets for a few hours.
• Rental Assistance Programs - For those looking to become more self-sufficient and who meet qualifying criteria, rental assistance for periods between 6-18 months.

We also offer a variety of Programs through our Counseling Support and Education Division. Those Programs include the following services:

• Counseling and Life Skills - Support, counseling, and skills training to school-age youth ages 6-17 and their families.
• Early Childhood Services - Counseling, case management, basic needs assistance, home visiting and early childhood education to expectant parents and families with children up to age 5.
• Fatherhood Education - Building social connections, mentoring to increase financial self-sufficiency, and fatherhood education services for fathers/father figures with children up to age 18.
• Parent Cafes - Fun and positive small group gatherings that celebrate families, social connections, resilience, and capable kids.
• Victims of Crime - Counseling services for ANY person of ANY age who has been a victim of a crime, witnessed a crime, or was indirectly impacted by a crime.
• Family Resource Center - Parent education, child development activities, resource library, food pantry for families, events, etc.

With all of these services being free to the community, we can use your help today as part of El Paso Giving Day to fill some of the gaps that local, state and federal grants or private foundation grants may not cover. Your generous support is appreciated as we continue to fulfill our mission to empower youth and families to brave adversity and conflict through constantly evolving, innovative programs in order to co-create a brighter future.