In honor of April being National Child Abuse Awareness Month, Sigma Mu Sigma, the Missouri State University chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society took part in two events for non-profit organizations. In early April, several officers of the student organization hosted a “Chillin’ with BACA” event at a local self-serve yogurt cafe in Springfield. Over a dozen members of BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) from around the state of Missouri attended to discuss with the Missouri State University students the organization’s goals and mission, along with highlighting some of their efforts planned for the month. This was an excellent opportunity to continue strengthening the bond between the two organizations and to thank the BACA members for their work with abused children.
The second event, a “Virtual Baby Shower,” was held through the month of April. Members and officers of Sigma Mu Sigma, collected donations to help create gift bags for babies and their mothers who utilized services made available to them through Isabel’s House in Springfield, Missouri. In total, the students were able to collect enough money to put together 10 large bags filled with diapers, wipes, bottles, formulas, clothes, bibs, wash cloths, toys and other baby related essentials for distribution at the crisis nursery. Additionally, cases of baby food, diapers and a few other items for babies and young children were purchased for use by the nursery itself with their clientele. In return for their hard work, the staff of Isabel’s House provided a guided tour of the facility, time for an enlightening discussion about child abuse in Greene County and limited opportunities to observe some of the work with the children in the home.