Who is Friday Johnson?

Friday Johnson might be the

child who makes the honor roll or the one who sleeps in class and never

has homework done.

It could be the child who cheers

for the local team or the child who has no interest in anything to do

with school.

Friday Johnson may come from

the nicest subdivision in town or the other side of the tracks.

Friday Johnson is a child with

a secret. It's not a secret about someone's birthday or a Christmas present.

Friday Johnson is a victim of abuse or neglect who wants the hurt to go

away. Friday just wants to be like every other child.

One thing in Friday's life

is sure chaos. Friday cannot predict from one day to the next what life

will be like. Children like Friday often believe that if they could change

themselves, things would be better. If they could just be a little nicer,

maybe Mom wouldn't hit so much. If she could just disappear, maybe Dad

would stop hurting her at night. If he just didn't come home, would Friday

care where he was?

Child abuse and neglect know

no economic status, race or cultural barriers.

Last year in Fayette County,

there were over 500 reports of child abuse or neglect.

In the last 12 months, according

to Prevent Child Abuse America, more than three million children were

reported to child protective service agencies as alleged victims of child

abuse or neglect and one million of these reports were confirmed.

In recognition of this problem,

the Fayette Youth Protection Home's 12th annual Power Parade will be conducted

the week of April 16-20. School children will be bringing home envelopes

this week to collect donations from neighbors, friends and businesses

to benefit the children at the Friday and Johnson homes for abused and

neglected children.

Who is Friday Johnson? A child

who needs a safe place to be and a regular routine with someone at home

who relates to him in a predictable and loving way. A child who needs

someone to care about her, how she is and what she feels. A child who

needs affection, regardless of performance.

Who is Friday Johnson? Any

child. Every child.

Be good to your children and

give them the power to change a life. Support the Power Parade.

Carolyn Cary is Fayette

County's official historian and editor of "The History of Fayette

County," published by the Fayette County Historical Society.