Photo submitted to the Times Observer Melissa McLean, Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center executive director, is pictured with members of the Pennsylvania Order of the Eastern Star, Youngsville Chapter 478. Chapter members recently donated comfort care kits for the center to use as it works with children and teenagers.

The Pennsylvania Order of the Eastern Star, Youngsville Chapter 478, recently donated a collection of comfort care kits to the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center to support children and families served by the center.

Members of the chapter assembled three different types of kits designed to meet the practical and emotional needs of children and teens who may be experiencing difficult circumstances. The donation included menstrual care kits, hygiene kits, and comfort kits.

The items will be made available to children who come through the Children’s Advocacy Center for services, helping ensure that basic needs are met while also offering small comforts during a challenging time.

The kits were presented to Melissa McLean, executive director of the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center, along with Tiger, the center’s facility dog. Tiger works alongside staff to provide calm, comfort, and emotional support to children during forensic interviews and court-related processes.

“We are incredibly grateful to the members of the Eastern Star for their generosity and thoughtfulness,” McLean said. “These kits provide practical items that children may need, but they also communicate something even more important–that our community cares about them.”

The Order of the Eastern Star is one of the largest fraternal organizations in the world open to both men and women. Founded in 1850, the organization is dedicated to charitable work, community service, and supporting those in need. Local chapters, including Youngsville Chapter 478, regularly contribute to community initiatives and humanitarian efforts.

The Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center coordinates the community response to child abuse investigations in Warren and Forest Counties. The center works in partnership with law enforcement, child protective services, medical professionals, prosecutors, and mental health providers to ensure that children are heard in a child-friendly, trauma-informed environment while reducing the number of times they must recount their experiences.

Community support such as the donation from the Pennsylvania Order of the Eastern Star helps the center continue providing compassionate services to children and families throughout the region.

For more information about the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center, visit www.warrencac.org.