It's hard to believe we're coming up on our 2nd anniversary! A lot has happened in 2 short years and we have plans for even more.

Join us Sunday March 10th from 2-5pm at Mead's Corner to celebrate! We'll have cake, door prizes, info and entertainment.

If you'd like to contribute to our lending library, you can bring a book or dvd off of our Amazon Wishlist.

Or- if you would like to help us support Project Butterfly, you can bring any of the following items to Mead's Corner any time between now and party day:

Shampoo & Conditioner
Body Wash
Lotion
Razors & Shave Gel
Feminine Products
Deodorant
Brushes

Project Butterfly is a support group for survivors through the Wichita YWCA.

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This year we are proud to once again support efforts to stock the shelves for a couple of our favorite local agencies serving at-risk, homeless and runaway youth in our city. This population is at great risk for being exploited. Please consider picking up a few items off of these lists while you are doing your Christmas shopping and let's help out during this season of giving!

The OZ Drop-In Center is the city's only drop-in location specifically designed to serve homeless youth. Items for the OZ can be delivered to Carpenter Place Attn: ICT S.O.S 1501 N. Meridian. Or if you have a large donation for pick-up email info@ictsos.org.

The OZ Christmas Wish List

The Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County and the Wichita Exploited and Missing Children Unit work hand in hand to assist victims of child abuse, neglect, exploitation and sexual abuse. Officers and social workers often carry items with them to give comfort to a child or meet basic needs in times of crisis. Donations for these agencies can be delivered to Mead's Corner or either location of Scribbles & Giggles Children's Academy.

CAC/EMCU Christmas Wish List

And of course if you'd like to give an ICT S.O.S. tee or bracelet as a Christmas gift (and who wouldn't?) you can now order online!

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Our focus for the last several months has been The OZ. Now that the center is open, what is next for ICT S.O.S.?

Our next event is FREEDOM214: A Night of Worship at Mead's Corner.

This is an event organized by Kevin Johnson and Aaron Lewis, 2 college students with a heart for this issue. The evening will include music, prayer, video and conversation about human trafficking in Wichita. They will also take up an offering to benefit The OZ. We are also encouraging attendees to bring an item or two off the Target Wishlist for the center.

This will be a great opportunity to meet others in our community who are interested in fighting the exploitation of children in our city.

Our next ICT S.O.S. meeting will be held February 21st at 6pm at The OZ (1157 N.Emporia)

We are turning our focus now to legislative and policy changes, more local awareness and projects to reach potential victims. We have some exciting events on our radar for 2012 and would love all the input we can get from our members.

We are also continuing to work through the process to become an official non-profit. Our Articles of Incorporation have been approved by the Kansas Secretary of State. We'll be drafting bylaws and selecting a Board of Directors soon.

An easy way to help is to order the necklace designed by The Rusted Chain for us. $10 from the purchase of each one goes directly to ICT S.O.S. to help fund our projects. You can order one here: http://therustedchain.bigcartel.com/product/be-free-charity-necklace

Another great way to help is by encouraging a survivor to "Be Free" by donating a necklace for her to wear as a daily reminder. You can do so by ordering from the above link and having the necklace shipped to Veronica's Voice in Kansas City. They are a safe haven for survivors and often serve women from the Wichita area as well as KC. To have a necklace shipped there use this address:

Veronica's Voice
Attn: Kiersten
PO BOX 172472
Kansas City, KS 66117-1472

 Jennifer will speaking about ICT S.O.S. at Gracepoint Church for their Gracepoint Summit on Saturday Jan. 21st.

https://www.facebook.com/ictsos#!/events/281384388586498/

And at City Life Church Sunday morning Jan. 22nd. at 10:30am

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Monday Jan 30th, 2012 Mead's Corner will host a special night of music, prayer and conversation about human trafficking.

https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/events/171410072966181/

A special offering will be taken at the event to benefit the Youth Resource Center staffed by the Wichita Children's Home. Donations will help to purchase items still needed for the center.

If you'd like to purchase an item to bring, you can choose from the Target Wishlist:

http://www.target.com/ot/list/u6n_NB5d5DYIVbrSVigy2Q

Hope to see you there!

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We now have a move-in date set. This will be our next work day, NOT Dec. 17th as we originally planned. Check out Volunteer Kansas and sign up to help!

http://www.volunteerkansas.org/Opportunities/Opportunity/337:Extreme_Makeover_Day_for_Youth_Resource_Center

Keep watching our Facebook page for updated photos of the progress! www.facebook.com/ictsos

And if you want to help out with items for the center, check out the Target Wishlist!

http://www.target.com/ot/list/u6n_NB5d5DYIVbrSVigy2Q

Our next meeting is Tuesday Dec. 13th at 6pm at the Youth Resource Center location (11th & Emporia)

https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/335796179769436/

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Here is a link to some of the photos from the work day on November 19th: https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.299641800068452.77624.202503353115631&type=3

And don't forget, there are still LOTS of needed items. If you'd like to pick up a few while you're out Christmas shopping, here's a Target Wishlist: http://www.target.com/ot/list/u6n_NB5d5DYIVbrSVigy2Q

Thnk you to everyone who has supported this project. It's going to be so wonderful for our community when it is finished!

The post Youth Resource Center Updates appeared first on ICT SOS.

Work Day #1: is Saturday November 19th 9-3. More info here: http://www.volunteerkansas.com/Opportunities/Opportunity/328:Cleanup_Day_For_Daytime_Resource_Center_for_Homeless_Youth_

Items still needed for the center:

Target Wishlist

Books

Pool Table for Drop-In Center

Food for Drop-In Center Work Day

Paper Goods for the Drop-In Center

Cleaning Supplies for the Drop-In Center

Needs List for Drop-In Center (Larger Items)

If you can help with any of these items or if your church or business would like to host a donation drive or "angel tree" please email info@ictsos.org

After this Saturday's work day, the contractors will be in there working hard to get everything ready for us to move in later in December. The target move-in date and community work day is Dec. 17th, 2011. More info on that work day here: http://www.volunteerkansas.com/Opportunities/Opportunity/337:Extreme_Makeover_Day_for_Youth_Resource_Center

And last but not least, a HUGE thanks to some of the many people working hard to make all of this happen!

Volunteer Kansas

Bauer & Son Construction

A&H Electric

Meadowland Fine Remodeling

Wichita Children's Home

The post Homeless Youth Resource Center Updates appeared first on ICT SOS.

Watch Impact - Nov. 3rd, 2011 on PBS. See more from IMPACT.

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Please sign up at:

http://www.volunteerkansas.org/Opportunities/Opportunity/328:Daytime_Drop-In_Center_for_Homeless_Youth_Cleanup_Day

Be sure to check out our Volunteer Opportunities page for needs and links to help!

Time to roll up our sleeves!

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A few months ago we were asked to be part of an event in Kansas City that we decided to decline. Through our partnership with ASERCA the decision was made not to participate in this particular event.

Today, a news story was brought to my attention about the event:

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/investigation-finds-donations-to-non-profit-dont-appear-to-stay-in-kc-or-help-catch-child-predators-nov2011swp

The organization is said to be planning to issue a statement soon.

I wanted to take this opportunity to remind our supporters that EVERYTHING that ICT S.O.S. does stays local. We work with local organizations in the Wichita, KS area that are directly serving victims and at-risk youth. All donations are made directly to local agencies and all in-kind donations of items such as clothing, supplies, etc. go directly to these agencies as well.

Right now, ICT S.O.S. is completely volunteer and has no overhead costs. As we continue to grow, that may change but the local focus will not.

For a list of some of the agencies we work with, or to make donations directly to them, please visit the Support Our Mission page.

As services and agencies close down, the need is greater than ever for kids in our city. The weather is getting colder and donations are down at most local agencies. If you are considering a gift before the end of the year, PLEASE consider giving locally.

Some immediate needs are listed on our Volunteer Opportunities page.

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