The lighthouse is known as a guide and a symbol of light in an area of darkness, and for children affected by domestic violence, the Lighthouse Shelter in Marshall serves as a safe harbor — a place to receive some guidance and comfort.

Each year, the Lighthouse provides help for children of all ages who have been exposed to various types of domestic violence. Whether the children become shelter residents or remain in their homes, they can benefit from Lighthouse services such as counseling, children’s group meetings or fun activities. However, the Lighthouse is a nonprofit corporation and needs some help from the community from time to time.

That’s where the Sponsor-a-Child program comes in. Children’s program coordinator Richell Rimmer said she and her summer intern Cayla Blunk have lots of trips and activities planned throughout the summer and into the fall, but along with those plans comes several costs.

“We plan to take the children to the Arrow Rock Lyceum, Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun, the Kansas City Zoo and other places, but there are also costs for travel, like gas, food and other expenses,” Rimmer said. “But it only takes $15 to sponsor a child.”

Some of the tickets have been donated to the shelter, but Richell said there’s no point in taking the children to Worlds of Fun or Oceans of Fun if, when they get there, there’s not enough money for them to eat. Some of the children may also need swimming suits for trips to the Marshall Aquatic Center or Oceans of Fun.

“Sponsor-a-Child money may be used to help more than just the one child,” Rimmer said. “But some activities may take more than $15 to cover. The funds also help pay for craft supplies we use at kids group on Thursday nights, but while the children are at the group, their mothers are at their own group.”

The women’s and children’s groups are offered free for anyone who needs them, Rimmer said. At the children’s group, from about 6 to 8 p.m. each Thursday, Rimmer and Blunk play with the children and engaged them in fun, learning activities to help them make friends and just enjoy being a child.

“I feel like when you’re in an atmosphere of domestic violence in a household, a lot of kids have to miss out on being a child and through this group and our other summer activities, hopefully, we’ll be able to give some of that back to them,” said Blunk, who will be working with the children until the fall, when she must return to college at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.

So far, the Sponsor-a-Child program has been catching on, Rimmer said, but she noted that more help is needed to ensure all the planned activities will occur. Rimmer said a lot of help has already come from the Slater community Vacation Bible School.

“Richell attended and told everyone about the program and the Lighthouse,” said Pam Sebastian, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Slater, which was involved in the VBS. “She is just so enthusiastic and a great advocate for the kids. They respond well to her. I think the offering added up to about $370.”

Sebastian said children who attend VBS tend to bring in a few nickels or a dime and some pennies and everyone gets excited about anything they are wanting to give, but this year, she said the children must have been excited about the opportunity to help children at the Lighthouse.

“This year because they had that program where we knew that for $15 you could sponsor a child, and because of the theme of Bible School being the Lighthouse, it was the perfect opportunity,” Sebastian said. “We couldn’t pass it up. A little offering was taken every day and a final offering was taken up Friday.”

Individuals who would like to sponsor a child should contact Rimmer at (660) 831-0988 or mail a check to the Lighthouse Shelter, Lighthouse Shelter, P.O. Box 884, Marshall, MO 65340.