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By Brenda Wynn

Community Advocate Inner Banks Hotline

There’s something to be said about dads. From the moment we’re born, our dads are the ones who become our protector. As children, there is nothing more satisfying or gratifying than having Dad around to share our sadness, joy, accomplishments and failures. Dad, our hero, makes all well at all times.

Unfortunately, for some the above statement is only a fairy tale and is not a real life experience. Those are the children who are at the hands of an abuser named Dad. He curses, screams, even hits. The fear of him coming around becomes a reality not a dream.

At this time during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, dads are spending more time at home than usual. Is this time being spent bonding or are children crying and hoping for a reopening of things so that they might escape the abuse, physical or verbal or both. Hopefully, time is being spent in bonding and respecting each other.

Children sometimes are not always the objects of abuse, but they take on the abuse suffered by their mom’s, and this sometimes has a deeper effect than being abused themselves.

On June 2, 1943, the Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots trained at Tuskegee Airfield, Alabama, had their first combat missions protecting bombers flying over Europe. The Inner Banks Hotline also is fighting to protect our victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, in which we are committed to conquering.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from abuse please feel free to call us 24 hours a day 7 days a week at 1-877-429-5526 or call 911.

Plans were to reopen the Thrift Store on June 8.

Please be safe, continue social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks.

Hotline Staff are Janie Spencer, Executive Director;  Norma Hill, Client Advocate; Brenda Wynn, Community Advocate; Gloria Owens, Thrift Store Manager; and  Avis Bryant, Faith/Hispanic Outreach Advocate.

Inner Banks Hotline offices are at 507 US Hwy 64 East (beside Family Dollar Store), telephone 252-796-5526.