THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510140113
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEAN GEDDES, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
When Mayor Meyera Oberndorf heard Marian Wright Edelman, author and founder of the Children's Defense Fund, speak at a national convention for mayors some time ago, she became determined to get Virginia Beach involved.
Her wish was granted. The city and local congregations are involved in a big way in celebrating the Children's Sabbath, a national celebration of all faiths focusing on children and families.
On Oct. 22, a free citywide Interfaith Family Festival with children's choirs, artwork and dancers will be at the 17th Street Park from 1 to 4 p.m. The day will culminate at 6:30 p.m. at Eastern Shore Chapel on Laskin Road with the live teleconference from Washington, D.C., ``Children at Risk and the Role of the Church,'' hosted by Tim Russert of NBC's ``Meet the Press.''
``As far as I know we are the only city in the Hampton Roads area that has put together such a citywide program,'' said Mary Lee Harris, co-chairwoman along with Priscilla Beede, of the event. Oberndorf is the honorary chairwoman.
The Children's Sabbath is sponsored nationally by the Children's Defense Fund, the nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy group for children founded in 1973 by Edelman. In addition to the other local activities, churches all over Virginia Beach will be honoring the Children's Sabbath in their services Sunday.
One of the program's goals is to raise public awareness of the problems of children and poverty, and in keeping with that theme, Interfaith Family festival participants are asked to bring nonperishable food and infant care items to be donated to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. A representative from the food bank will provide a van at the site to accept food items.
Highlights of the afternoon's program will include children's choirs sponsored by the Virginia Beach Police Department, St. Nicholas Catholic Church, St. Gregory's Catholic Church, King's Grant Baptist Church and the local Baha'i faith. There also will be song and dance groups from the Department of Parks and Recreation, a teen praise band and a pompom group, singers Sonya Tokar and Rashida Scott, costumed characters, fire and police displays, and more.
Groups are continuing to call to ask about participating.
``Last year, we had 85 groups take part in the event,'' said Harris, ``and this year we expect even more.''
For the teleconference, Russert will host a panel of clergy and lay experts gathered at Washington National Cathedral to discuss issues pertinent to children and teens.
Edelman, along with other panel members, will propose solutions that can be implemented at the parish level. The program, via satellite, is free and open to the public but reservations must be made by calling the church at 2020 Laskin Road at 428-6763.
The city has experience in aiding families with children who are in need of assistance. According to Daniel Stone, director of Social Services, more than 30,000 citizens with various needs come to the attention of the department throughout the year.
``Five thousand of these receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children, and we have about 13,000 persons on food stamps,'' he added.
Both the Social Service and Police departments are active in tracking down cases of child abuse and coming to the aid of children.
``We have our own child protective services division (under state law), and together with the police department, we have developed an interdepartmental approach to child protective services investigation,'' Stone said. ``We get over 20,000 calls in a year reporting various instances of child abuse in the city and we at once screen these calls carefully, ending up investigating around 3,000 cases annually along with the Police Department.''
He added, ``Poverty is growing faster nationally among our children and single-parent households than any other group in today's society.''
The committee for the Children's Sabbath has worked voluntarily throughout the year on the event. Members include Bonnie Thompson, Ridgeley Ingersoll, Stella Tokar, Dorothy Traub and Ned Lowery. MEMO: For more information, call Ridgely Ingersoll at 425-1413.
ILLUSTRATION: Priscilla Beede, co-chair with Mary Lee Harris of the event
CHILDREN'S SABBATH
When: Sunday, Oct. 22.
What: Children's Sabbath, a national celebration of all faiths
focusing on children and families.
Where: ``Interfaith Family Festival'' from 1 to 4 p.m. at 17th
Street Park; ``Children at Risk and the Role of the Church''
teleconference at 6:30 p.m. at Eastern Shore Chapel.
Call: 425-1413.
by CNB