On Friday, April 22, 2016, the Children's Homes of Cleveland County, Inc. celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a garden party called "Growing Children, Changing Lives." Guests at the event, held at the City Pavilion in Shelby, included former residents, donors, volunteers, past and present board members, current and retired employees. Partner organizations, such as the United Way, the Department of Social Services, and the Windjammers Motorcycle Club, were also represented.
In 1991, the Children's Homes of Cleveland County was born out of the merger of two homes for children, the Shelter Home and the James Home. In the past 25 years, the organization has cared for countless children and their families. CHCC operates two group homes and also provides supervised visitation, counseling, co-parenting classes, and adoption services. CHCC is the only agency of its kind based in Cleveland County that is nationally accredited.
The Honorable Larry Wilson works closely with CHCC in his role as the chief district court judge for the 27B Judicial District. According to Wilson, "Working with abused and neglected children is extremely difficult work. I am always confident that those children that suffer are in good hands at CHCC. They work to provide the necessary services and do so with a respectful and caring heart."
Margie Christopher has been the executive director of CHCC for the entire 25 years and worked with the agency before the merger. She has seen the significant growth and expansion of the organization. "Our agency has been blessed with excellent employees and an extremely visionary Board of Directors over the years. The Board has encouraged partnerships and the expansion of services. We are still true to our original mission and we continue to operate two group homes, but we also provide many other services that the general community does not see."
CHCC has big plans for the future. Those plans include expanded therapeutic services, improved visitation services, and continued partnerships with community organizations.
About CHCC
Children's Homes for Cleveland County, Inc. is an independent, not for profit agency serving children and families for more than 25 years that are in crisis due to abuse and neglect. CHCC's mission is to provide services to children and families in which they have the opportunity to come together to learn, to grow and to develop in a safe, stable environment - because we care. An array of supportive services have been developed including supervised visitation, social services to families, limited adoption services, outpatient mental health services, parenting education services, and community education and awareness.

Pictured: Chief District Court Judge Larry Wilson speaks at the Garden Party celebrating the Children's Homes of Cleveland County's 25th Anniversary with Kathy Wilson, President of the CHCC Board of Directors (left) and Executive Director Margie Christopher (right).
Submitted by Shannon Kennedy