MountainStar Family Relief Nursery (MountainStar) believes that every child deserves the best start possible. It’s child abuse prevention programs keeps Central Oregon children safe, parents successful and build communities of hope. April is National Child Abuse Prevention month and MountainStar invites the community to join its annual Keep Kids Safe Campaign as they raise awareness and funds to provide services to families across the region. MountainStar is hosting multiple events throughout April and May and invites community members to stay up to date, help spread the word and join in raising critical funds for local babies and toddlers.
MountainStar is grateful for the opportunity to host Chambers of Commerce events, benefit concerts at community venues, MountainStar Community Table fundraisers and family focused Communities for Kids events. These events will feature delicious food and drinks, exciting prizes and great conversations on ways to increase community resilience and keep vulnerable babies and toddlers safe. These events will raise awareness and support for MountainStar’s services at each of its locations in Bend, Redmond, La Pine, Madras and Prineville.
“We’re proud to come together and build resilience with children, families and our community,” says Kara Tachikawa, executive director of MountainStar. “At MountainStar, we see early childhood investment as one of the most important things we should be focusing on as a community. We know it takes a village to keep children safe and we are so grateful for our many community partnerships. So, if you are just getting involved, want to learn more, or ready to step up in a big way for local babies and toddlers… now is the time. Our events over the next two months are designed to create awareness, foster dialogue and encourage action. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children and families in Central Oregon.”
In April, MountainStar is also launching a new monthly giving program — Supporting Those At Risk (STAR) Champion. Monthly gifts give families living in crisis the stable support they need. To say thank you, local businesses are stepping up with a special gift to honor MountainStar’s STAR Champions. Follow MountainStar on social media to learn more!
MountainStar has been serving the Central Oregon community for 22 years providing support and resources to families with young children at the greatest risk of abuse and neglect. With 42% of child abuse victims under the age of five, MountainStar gets involved with families facing tough challenges at a time when it matters most — the first 1,000 days of their child’s life. Children attend therapeutic early childhood classes designed for babies and toddlers living in high-stress and chaotic homes. MountainStar staff create a safe and predictable environment to respond to the individual needs of each child and their family in its program.
For more information about April events, visit MountainStar’s website at mtstar.org/april.
- April 4 | 3-5pm — Jefferson County Communities 4 Kids at Sahalee Park
- April 5 | 3-5pm — Crook County Communities 4 Kids at Stryker Park
- April 6 | 3-5pm — Deschutes County Communities 4 Kids at Deschutes Children’s Foundation East Bend Campus
- April 7 | 8-8:30am — Prineville Perk at MountainStar Prineville
- April 14 | 8-9am — Madras Coffee Cuppers at 122 NE Tenth St., Madras
- April 15 | 4-7pm — Prineville’s Benefit to Keep Kids Safe at Wild Ride Brewing
- April 21 | 7-9am — La Pine Chamber Breakfast at Location TBD
- April 21 | 8:30-9:30am — Redmond Coffee Clatter at 2724 SW Timber Ave., Redmond
- April 22 | 1-3pm — Madras’ Benefit to Keep Kids Safe at Willow Creek Taproom
- April 23 | 10-1pm — Not’Cho Grandma’s Bingo at Silvermoon Brewing
- April 26 | 12-1pm — Prineville Community Table at Prineville Presbyterian Church
- April 27 | 4:30-6pm — Bend Chamber of Commerce Biz & Bevs at Audi Bend
- April 28 | 5-8pm — Redmond’s Benefit to Keep Kids Safe at General Duffy’s Waterhole
- May 3 | 12-1pm — Madras Community Table at Inn at Cross Keys Station
- May 9 | 5:30-7pm — Bend Community Table at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
