AUBURN – Androscoggin Children’s Advocacy Center is encouraging artists who paint furniture to exhibit their creative work in the first annual “Chair-ity Auction” on Aug. 5 at the Martindale Country Club.

Guests will have a buffet dinner, and children’s chairs will be sold in a live auction. Proceeds will go to the center, a nonprofit program that serves child abuse victims in Androscoggin County.

“Share your talent and help victims of child abuse,” said coordinator Bridget O’Rourke. “We invite artists to volunteer to paint a child’s chair for our live auction. We will provide the chairs. You apply your creative inspiration.” In July the chair will be on display in the Lewiston/Auburn area. Anyone wishing to help should call O’Rourke at 784-0436.

Opened in 2005, the center provides a child-friendly place for interviews of children who disclose sexual abuse or serious physical abuse. It also facilitates a coordinated, multidisciplinary process for the investigation of reports of abuse, on-going case review and case tracking.

One of the program’s objectives is to minimize the trauma to children when professionals respond to reported abuse. The center is a cooperative effort between 17 agencies in Androscoggin County involved in law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, victim advocacy, social services, medical services and mental health services.

Children’s Advocacy Center programs are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the United States Virgin Islands and Canada. Androscoggin Children’s Advocacy Center is the first program in Maine.

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