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Fundraiser for Special Needs Children
12/20/08 - 04:54 PM

WMBB News Department

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The community comes together to help the family of one very special little girl.
   
The story of Marissa Amora captured the hearts of many Panhandle residents. After officials admitted she was abused while in the state’s care. When Amora was a baby, she was abused mentally and physically after child welfare workers returned her to an abusive home. She now lives with 6 other special needs children in a loving family, and today residents are helping to give a special Christmas present to her brothers.

“We don’t have a lot but we have a lot of love,” says Dawn Amora, Marissa’s adoptive mother, “And the community has supported us all these years both emotionally and physically and we’re just delighted that the boys have new beds and we can just see them bouncing on them Christmas morning.”

Shorehouse furniture pledged to match donations from the community to go toward new beds for Marissa’s brothers. The drive started over a week ago and aims to reach a goal of $25,000.

“All these people have come together and just been our guardian angels pushing us forward and helping,” says Amora. “And we just want to let everybody know that we’re going to pay it forward we’re going to make sure these kids never ever go without and never go to an institution

Local radio talk show host Burnie Thompson, fundraiser organizer, also organized a community diaper and toy drive for the kids last Christmas.

“When I met Marissa, and you see her over there laughing, you see how well behaved the kids are,” says Thompson, “I just fell in love with the family became friends with the family so this year we’re trying to help their Christmas be a little better as well.

“Marissa lives so that other people don’t forget,” says Amora, “And if you see a child being abused if you see something that you think is odd, talk to someone.”

In May, Marissa Amora was awarded a multi-million dollar settlement from the state because of her abuse, but the family says they’ve had problems receiving the funds.