Teen helps raise funds for child abuse prevention

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

For Kamryn Mayberry, hearing about child abuse became real when her parents tried to adopt a little boy after discovering he was allegedly being abused in the center that was supposed to protect him.

Things fell through and the Mayberrys weren’t able to take him home. That memory stuck with Mayberry and when she became Teen Miss Rabbit Fest, she took up the cause of child abuse for her service project.

Now a senior at Copperas Cove High School, Mayberry teamed up with Bearables and Bits ‘N Bites Bakery to raise funds toward child abuse prevention and awareness.

On Saturday, Bearables welcomed Mayberry and her group of volunteers to hold a birthday bash where for $10, children could stuff an animal of their choice.

With the party theme at the shop on 209 S. Main St., after each animal was stuffed, either using a machine or by hand, each child received a birth certificate for their new friend, had their photo taken, and also had the chance to decorate two cupcakes from Bits ‘N Bites. Families also had the opportunity to purchase clothing for their stuffed animals.

Sara Doyle heard about the event via the Copperas Cove Independent School District’s Facebook page, and took her daughters ages six and two, to the party.

“This is for a great cause,” Doyle said. “There is always a need to make people aware of child abuse.”

All kinds of animals, including bears, ponies, cows, elephants and more, were available for the choosing.

Wendy Sledd, Rabbit Fest Scholarship Pageant director, was on hand to provide support to Mayberry and her team.

“We planned for 100," Sledd said, adding that in the first party session alone, 54 animals were stuffed.

Saturday’s event had three party time slots, from 10 a.m. until noon, 1-3 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.

A total of $400 was netted from the bash, with another donation set to come in, Sledd said.

B.J. Callaway, owner of Bearables, and Monique Murphy, owner of Bits ‘N Bites Bakery, were 100 percent on board with Mayberry’s efforts, with the Scotty Ray Band providing live entertainment.

Proceeds from the bash are going to CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties.

The CASA program locates and trains court-appointed special advocates who directly work with abused children locally who are in the care of child protective services.

CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to represent and advocate for a child’s best interests in the child protection system. They are assigned to help one child or set of siblings at a time, so they can focus on giving that child or sibling group the individualized advocacy and attention they need.

With CASA volunteers, children who are victims of abuse get a set of “eyes and ears” who will listen to them and speak for them in court.

For more information about the CASA program, go to casabellcoryell.org.