On the Seventh Day of Christmas Crazy ...

For as long as Christmas Crazy has been going on, I've always wished I had a way to show you who we're helping. While I've never met the kids who will wake up to a little Christmas joy this year, I know a bit about them because I've seen the data that describes them. Data can be cold and unfeeling, but it can also tell a story. And the thing about the victims of domestic violence is that the data doesn't change. Year after year, kids from all walks of life have their worlds destroyed by violence in their homes.

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) publishes an annual report that tells a lot about those kids. The Fatalities report won't show you the faces, but it will tell you the stories.

In 2016, 8 children under the age of 12 were murdered during a domestic violence incident in Pennsylvania. 8 children. The youngest of the dead was just 1 year old. 56% of Pennsylvania's domestic violence fatalities involved a gun. Other deaths involved stabbing and those are the less violent of the official causes of death.

I stop looking at the data when it becomes that tragic.

Pennsylvania's youngest victim was 1 year old, but it's oldest was 83. Domestic violence doesn't discriminate based on age. Its victims are of every race and ethnicity. Their economic situations vary greatly.

The only thing the fatalities have in common is that they could have been prevented. Organizations like Center for Victims work in our communities to educate, break the cycle of domestic violence, and support legislation that will make children safer.

Let's help them break the cycle.

On the seventh day of Christmas Crazy,

my true love gave to me

blocks for building,

games for playing,

things kids need,

lots of animal fiends,

crafts, paper, and pens

STEM toys they'll love

and all the things for baby.

You can help by doing a little shopping on Amazon or  throw a few dollars into the game . Either way, I'll deliver a whole lot of Christmas Magic to Center for Victims.

From the 2015 delivery