Local 7-Year-Old Shares Joy 

A Tioga Elementary second grade student has found a way to give back to other local children.  

This story begins last year when Averie Walkley, daughter of Greg and Justina Walkley, decided to use all of her birthday money to share with the women and children who were staying at A Place To Call Home,  the transitional home for women operated by Catholic Charities in Tioga County. Averie and her family went shopping and bought boxes full of toys, bath towel sets, several comforters and many other items, all as a donation for the residents in this home located in Apalachin, N.Y. 

A Place To Call Home is a safe / transitional home for women (and accompanying children) seeking temporary shelter from abuse situations, recovering from addiction, or just presently without a home. 

“We help these women get aligned with the help and resources they need and they each set their own goals based on their unique circumstances,” says Jo DiFulvio, program services director.

Besides providing a safe and supportive place to call home, Catholic Charities assists with skills such as budgeting, time management, employment, and advocacy to name a few.  

“The final step for each of the women is for them to move into permanent housing and a future of self sufficiency and empowerment,” DiFulvio goes on to explain. 

Seven-year-old Averie found out that when the women do move out, they are usually provided with some household items to get started: towels, bedding, cleaning supplies, and laundry detergent with bucket.

“The girls that move out get stuff for the house,” says Averie, “but the kids don’t get anything special.”

Averie came up with the idea of providing each child with a backpack filled with age-appropriate items. She and her mother named this effort New Beginnings Backpack Program for Kids.

“I think what Averie is doing is wonderful,” said Justina, Averie’s mother, adding, “When you realize that your own kids have a big playground, animals to interact with and lots of toys, and at the same time there are local children that really don’t get to experience that, we wanted to help bridge that gap.” 

For the most recent 14-month-old child moving out with their mother, Averie packed up a new backpack with an early literacy theme in mind: a sound book that plays nursery rhymes, another book with matching stuffie, a security blanket, and a toy truck. Bags for older children have included coloring books and crayons, as well as toys, books, and fleece blankets. 

Averie uses some of her own spending money along with some help from mom and dad, “and, the shopping is mostly Averie and her ideas,” says Justina.

When Averie is not at school or shopping for her program, she is busy just being a regular kid.

“I like to play on my playground, play with my little brother, and go horseback riding.” Averie is also quite excited to have some new goats to take care of at home as well as chickens. 

“Thank you, Averie, for your kindness and compassion toward others,” wrote the staff at Catholic Charities on behalf of the moms and children whose lives were touched. 

For questions about the transitional housing program, contact jo.difulvio@dor.org. For information on how to become involved or volunteer, email to patrick.aquilio@dor.org.