Elks Lodge makes donation to Dr. Goodall’s House
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
On Monday morning, Feb. 10, several members of the Breckenridge Elks Lodge #1480 presented a check to the staff at Dr. Goodall’s House.
The staff who serves both Dr. Goodall’s House in Breckenridge and Virginia’s House in Graham are in one of the family resource center’s interview rooms. Pictured, from left, are Tina Byrd, forensic interviewer/MDT coordinator; Rebecca Navarro, director of programs; Susie Clack, executive director; and Kellsi Easter, family advocate and mentor coordinator. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The $3,500 donation was a Gratitude Grant from the local Elks club. The money for the grant comes from the national organization as part of the Community Investments Program.
Dr. Goodall’s House is a satellite office of Virginia’s House, a non-profit family resource center in Graham. The two centers provide four child-focused programs, including mentor programs, Children’s Advocacy Center, CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocate, and crime victims assistance.
For example, through the Children’s Advocacy Center program, Dr. Goodall’s House staff works with representatives from child protective services (CPS), law enforcement, medical personnel, mental health experts, and county prosecutors, to conduct interviews with the victims of child abuse/sexual abuse to help with intervention, investigation, and prosecution. In the CASA program, trained volunteers are paired with children who are going through court cases, serving as advocates for the children.
The local mentor program matches adult volunteers with school children to serve as a positive and encouraging adult in the children’s lives.
“This is amazing,” said Susie Clack, executive director of Virginia’s House/Dr. Goodall’s House. She said they would make good use of the funds for community awareness and prevention services.
“We’re happy to do it,” Desiree Powell, Elks Lodge secretary, said. “We think what y’all do is amazing.”
Dr. Goodall’s House is named after long-time Breckenridge physician Dr. Edwin Goodall, who had a local clinic from the 1950s through the early 1990s. The family resource center is located in the medical office he built.
Elks Lodge members took a tour of Dr. Goodall’s House prior to the check presentation on Monday morning. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
A portrait of the Goodall family hangs in the hallway of Dr. Goodall’s House in Breckenridge. Pictured, from left, are Dr. Edwin Goodall, his wife Barbara, their son Gregg, and their daughter Deborah.
Cutline, top photo: Members of the Breckenridge Elks Lodge present a check for $3,500 to the Dr. Goodall’s House staff. Pictured from left are Jessica Bishop, Elks’ Esteemed Loyal Knight; Lynda Justus, Elks Trustee; Donna Rosginol, Elks Treasurer; John Powell, Elks Trustee; Desiree Powell, Elks Secretary; Susie Clack, Executive Director of Dr. Goodall’s House/Virginia’s House; Kellsi Easter, family advocate/mentor coordinator; Tina Byrd, forensic interviewer/MDT coordinator; and Rebecca Navarro, Director of Programs. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
