Some of you may be aware that during our custody battle we had to start going to a safe exchange place here in town to drop off or pick up Samuel between parents. This is an amazing program that allows the parents to not have to see each other physically and communication is done via paper. All communication is kept in a log and saved for court. One parent is in the front and the other is in the back. There is a police officer present at the exchanges. This also diminishes the opportunity for confrontations, manipulation, and safety issues to arise at the exchange.
This weekend when we went to the facility, there was a note on the door telling us to go to the Sheriff’s office, that the exchange center was closed for the weekend. We are refferred to the sheriff’s office for safety whenever the exchange center is closed. We went to the Sheriff’s office where confrontations ensued and threats were made all in front of Samuel. On more than one occasion we have had to have a police officer break up unnecessary verbal confrontations that could have been avoided at the safe exchange center.
I called the safe exchange center today to find out why they were closed and if they would be open next weekend for our next exchange. They told me they had to close the safe exchange program due to no funds. They were hoping to stay open until May as they tried to raise more money to potentially keep this service available, but had to close early due to funding.
Please partner with me in prayer that some supporters would donate money to keep this service available to help protect our children and families who find themselves in a volitile custody arrangement. Also that we would find a solution if the exchange center does indeed stay closed.
