In The Service Of Others

Child abuse. Two words that stir the emotions. Two words that in a perfect world would never be used together. Yet, because our world isn’t perfect, the reality is that abuse of the young and helpless does happen. And because it happens, a group of volunteers has been working tirelessly to raise awareness and money with the goal of creating something concrete to combat child abuse in Indian River County.

That something is called “The Village in Vero,” where, in the near future, as many as 96 children,  ranging in age from birth through 12 years of age, will be cared for.
The story of how the village concept evolved goes back 16 years to a woman called LaVaughn Tilton, who worked hard to convince others that something had to be done to provide positive futures for abused and neglected children. Her efforts resulted in the formation of the Hibiscus Children’s Foundation in 1985; four years later the Hibiscus Children’s Center opened in Jensen Beach with 12 beds. Today there are 40 beds in the shelter, which has provided some 100,000 nights of service and safe housing to Treasure Coast children in need.

Read the entire article in the February 2002 issue