Good to Know: A Resource for Kids and Parents

By Desiree Parker Sunday, March 07, 2010

As a parent myself, I can imagine what a helpless and scary feeling it must be when your child is having developmental issues at a young age.

This is just the situation mom Amy Bornhoft found herself in when her two-year-old Madison was having unusual problems that doctors were having trouble diagnosing. Child Development Resources stepped in and helped out, and not only did Amy find a doctor to help diagnose her child with Sensory Processing Disorder, but CDR has also been there to help Madison every step of the way since.

I know so many parents in the Triangle with similar stories about CDR and the fantastic services they offer young kids, be they developmentally delayed, at-risk, or disabled – CDR is the first place parents turn when they’re worried something might be wrong.

It’s where I would have turned if I’d had any concerns for my son.

Now that the economy is mired in a recession and budgets are getting slashed at every level, I know this year’s annual Bid 'n Buy auction for CDR is more critical than ever, so parents like Amy will always have somewhere to turn.

This year the auction is in its 32nd year (I also have a soft spot for it since I was born the same year it began), and I’ve already flipped through the auction book to stake out what I want to bid on.

Let me give you a few highlights (you can find all the items and info on the CDR auction Web site): a one-week beach house vacation in a house in Corolla Light; a week in Disney Orlando with tickets; and a week at Massanutten are my favorites for the live auction. For the silent auction, there are so many items I had trouble whittling down the list! I’d take the whole page of prints, probably – oh, and the tickets to Dollywood! And maybe a wine basket for my parents for their anniversary.

There’s also enough food to keep us going for the whole event – did they mention ice cream? I think they did!

You see where I’m going with this – there’s something for everyone. If you’ve gone before, you already know that there’s thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and services from folks and businesses all around the community at the auction, at every price for bidding, so there’s bound to be something you’ll be interested in.

The other great thing is this is a kid-friendly event (a must if you have a busy little one like mine). There is a kid’s corner with crafts and fun things to do, and an area to drop your kids off (with CDR professionals) so you can have some alone shopping time. I also hear that a special guest from Sesame Place at Busch Gardens will be visiting the kids.

This year’s theme is “The Best Nest,” a tribute to the book by the same name by P.D. Eastman. The parent chair this year is Amy Bornhoft, and I’m sure she’d be glad to share her story with you if you see her there.

CDR Executive Director Paul Scott and Sissy Allen, assistant director for development, spent some time talking with me about the auction and all that’s gone into preparing this year.

The best part, both agree, is watching the community come together. “It’s such a neat feeling at the end of the day,” Scott says. “People really open their hearts for the kids – the generosity of the community is really evident.”

This year, a private donor has agreed to put up a matching donation of $15,000 for the “Sponsor the Children” portion of the auction (where you can just donate funds directly), so Scott thinks this will be a big help in getting CDR close to their $100,000 goal.

It sounds like a lot, but last year the auction raised $80,000. This year, CDR has seen funding cuts from every revenue stream: the local and state governments, as well as organizations like the United Way and the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation, who are struggling with budget issues of their own. That $100,000 will be put to good use.

You can pre-register online at the Web site and also find a list of all the items, directions, and other information. This year the auction will be held on March 14 at Lafayette High School. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., the live auction starts at 2:30 p.m.

Help make their 32nd year the best ever!