Desiree Carver | The Valdosta Daily TimesPlans were unveiled for the new Children's Advocacy Center facility. 

VALDOSTA — The Children’s Advocacy Center hosted a soft kick-off for its capital campaign Wednesday morning.

CAC staff provided tours of the current 2,100-square-foot facility and showcased plans for its future location on Skipper Bridge Road.

The campaign, dubbed “A Moving Story,” will be a year-long journey to raise $250,000 for its new facility.

The CAC already has the land, which was donated by the Vallotton family, and received a Community Development Block Grant for $500,000 to construct the building.

The project also received funding for a part-time, community-based therapist position to take services into nearby counties served by the CAC.

“The $250,000 will help provide phones, cameras and other things we need to make it a business,” said CAC Executive Director Susan Atwell.

The new facility will be 4,200 square feet, doubling the size of the current facility, and will have many new additions including multiple soundproof forensic interview rooms and an on-site medical clinic.

Atwell said the CAC conducted 190 forensic interviews last year and saw a 30 percent increase in cases, making the need for a new and larger facility more vital.

The CAC will host its official kick-off 7-10 p.m., May 26, downtown next to Covington’s. The event, called “A Little Help from Our Friends,” will feature area musicians.

The estimated date for being in the new facility is September 2017.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Susan Atwell, (229) 245-5363 or (229) 245-5369. 

Desiree Carver is Lifestyles Editor at the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be reached at (229) 375-5777.