Giving Children Hope to Hold Onto( BARIUM SPRINGS N.C. March 25 /- T...),Health

BARIUM SPRINGS, N.C., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Tyler* is 9 years old -- and hungry. Pushing dirty dishes aside, he climbs up on the kitchen counter. One by one, he opens and closes each cabinet and peers inside. Nothing. Helplessly, he looks over at his mother. Turning over on the couch, she buries her face deeper into the stained pillow. He starts toward her and then, remembering her twisted look and angry words the last time he woke her to tell her he was hungry, he stops in his tracks. Sighing, he settles back into his regular spot on the worn carpet in front of the TV. He knows if he waits a little while the stomach pains will go away.

Every day, children are born into families that are unprepared to meet even their most basic needs. Many of these children are severely neglected. Some live in constant fear of abuse. Most have no family or friends to turn to for help. All of them suffer at the hands of those who are supposed to nurture and care for them. The void created by neglectful, abusive and absent parents yawns wide for these children.

Attempting to Fill the Void

Barium Springs Home for Children throws a lifeline to many of them. "Some of the kids we see have never known what it's like to be cared for, to live a day without fear," says Sharon Bell, spokesperson for Barium Springs Home for Children. "They're just relieved to have a clean bed and regular meals. By teaching them, keeping them safe and loving them, we give them something they likely haven't felt before -- hope."

Founded in 1891, Barium Springs Home for Children provides services to more than 700 children each year. In addition to offering a loving home to abused and neglected children, Barium Springs Home for Children provides early childhood development for low-income families, foster family programs, behavior treatment in a school setting for troubled teens, and early intervention for children still living in the community.

Lives Touched, Lives Chang
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