Past drives student’s cause for children

Mary Manganello is making a difference. As just a freshman, she is using her experience of a troubled childhood to help those without a voice. Manganello started the Lost Children Association to raise awareness about children in abusive homes. The association became a Registered Student Organization this semester and is a project straight from the heart for the mass communication major as Manganello’s passion for helping children in abusive homes stems from her own experience.

“Before I was adopted, I lived for two years with an abusive woman in my foster home,” Manganello said.

Manganello wants her story to be heard. She feels that the story of enduring abuse within the foster-care system can be a tool to help children in similar situations.

The RSO, which has a Facebook group titled “Children’s Non-Profit Organization” and a “Lost Children Association” fan page meets at 5 p.m. on Sundays in the third floor game room at the Student Activities Center to plan events and discuss goals.

“Our goal is to build a safe home for children which would be about nine million dollars, and so far we have about six dollars.”

A safe home would be entirely volunteer-run and serve as a refuge and allow children to bypass the foster-care system by providing a place for them to live. Manganello is passionate about this goal from her own experience.

“I lived in a safe home before I went into foster care and absolutely loved it,” Manganello said.

The small, yet strong-willed, group of students that make up the Lost Children Association is planning to hold an event before the semester ends. They are in talks about a possible picnic, candy or lemonade sales, a game night or a water-balloon fight, all to raise money and awareness about children in abusive homes.

“Our short-term goal is to use donations to buy toys and books for children in orphanages,” Manganello said.

The Lost Children Association recently acquired two community partners with whom it will join efforts in helping children. The organization will be contributing to and joining together with the Hephzibah Children’s Home, an orphanage for infants to children age four and teenage mothers, as well as the Methodist Home for Children, an orphanage for children age seven to 17, both in Macon.

Manganello, who was adopted in 2000, uses her story to inspire others. Sophomore computer science and psychology major Helni Roblero joined the Lost Children Association after being encouraged by the experience of Manganello.

“After I heard her story, though, my views changed. I no longer was helping someone to just start a student organization. By being part of LCA, I hope to be able to help the unfortunate children who have to go through the same situation Mary went through,” Roblero said.

Posted by Mandy Boddy on Apr 16 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry