By: Noelle Lambert
The Charity of the Month for May is:
Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.)
Bikers Against Child Abuse, Inc. (B.A.C.A.) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that exists to provide aid, comfort, safety and support for children that have been sexually, physically and emotionally abused. They are dedicated to the principle that ‘one of the basic rights of childhood is to be safe and protected’. When a child’s family or environment has failed them, B.A.C.A. stands ready to help.
B.A.C.A. is a strong organization of dedicated individuals who are willing to sacrifice any and all in order to protect and secure a child’s basic right to a happy childhood.
The two major gaps that B.A.C.A. looks to fill for abused children is to provide for their safety and to provide funds for their therapy. Even with court involvement to protect children from further abuse with the issuance of protective orders and removing perpetrators from neighborhoods, the perpetrators continue to access and wound the children.
Also, while it might be clinically evident that a child has been abused, that child might not qualify for therapy benefits because he/she was too frightened to provide enough evidence for the case to be pursued. It has been found that children who feel safe are more capable of telling the truth because the threats made by an abuser are offset by the presence of dedicated bikers that have now become part of the child’s family.
One of the greatest and most unique assets of B.A.C.A. for children is their “biker family attitude”. Bikers are a tightly knit group! The brotherhood and family values are not just a way to live, but a way of life. One for all and all for one is not just a quote but it is their reality. After children have been introduced into the B.A.C.A. family they are not helpless or powerless anymore.
On Saturday, May 18, the Long Island B.A.C.A. Chapter will be holding their 100 Mile Ride that will take place throughout Long Island to raise awareness and funds. If you would like to make a donation to help abused children right here on Long Island or if you have any questions of any kind, please contact the Long Island B.A.C.A. Vice President and Public Relations Officer (Big D) at bigd@li-ny.bacaworld.org.
Additionally, if you are interested in becoming a B.A.C.A. member you must meet certain requirements. Some of them are that you have a desire to help abused children, have regular access to a motorcycle, are 18 years or older, can pass an NCIC fingerprint check and can attend monthly meetings and Chapter events (their meetings are held the second Sunday of every month at the American Legion Hall in Bohemia at 9:00AM unless it’s a holiday). Please contact Big D for membership information!
Another Organization You Can Get Involved With:
Twilight Wish Foundation
Twilight Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 2003 in Dolyestow, PA. They are dedicated to honoring and enriching the lives of senior citizens through Intergenerational Twilight Wish Celebrations! Their vision is to make the world a nicer place to age, one Twilight Wish at a time. To date, this organization has granted over 3,000 wishes throughout America. They are currently 17 chapters strong and looking to expand their outreach! You can get involved today in many ways, such as by sponsoring a wish, making a donation and through corporate sponsorship opportunities. You can also volunteer in many areas such as event planning, social media, office administration and chapter development. For more information and to find out additional ways of how you can get involved, please visit their website or contact their Long Island Chapter Director, James Ciervo at (631) 793-1065 or contact their headquarters at (215) 230-8777.
If you would like your organization to be featured in this column, email Noelle@SouthBaysNeighbor.com!
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