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To the editor:

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our community and all the elected leaders who attended the recent Elected Leader Engagement Day. The event was a crucial step in raising awareness about the challenges facing victim service organizations like The Dragonfly House Children’s Advocacy Center.

It’s important to understand that, while we face reductions in federal funding, we are not closing our doors or reducing our staff. Instead, we are increasingly relying on fundraisers and community donors to bridge the funding gap. Year after year, our community has demonstrated remarkable generosity, for which we are profoundly grateful.

At the end of the day, I am confident that The Dragonfly House will continue to thrive and carry out our vital work, thanks to the incredible generosity, kindness, and charitable spirit of our community. We are surrounded by individuals who possess the heart and passion to step up in times of great need. Through our work each day, we encounter a lot of darkness, but our donors and supporters are full of light and remind us there is true goodness in this world.

Our main concern, and what we want to relay to each of you, especially from the perspective of our staff and Board of Directors, is that we never take this generosity for granted. We are mindful of the potential burden on our donors, and we firmly believe that our federal government has the capacity to do much more to support victim services. Our community’s kindness should complement, not replace, the responsibility of our government to ensure adequate funding for these essential services.

We urge our community to continue supporting us but also to join us in advocating for sustainable federal funding solutions. Together, we can ensure that The Dragonfly House and similar organizations can continue their crucial work without undue reliance on local generosity.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

Brandi Reagan, Executive Director

The Dragonfly House Children’s Advocacy Center