Montague County Child Welfare Board hosts Lone Star Light Gala

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - A local non-profit in Montague County is raising awareness through its upcoming Lone Star Light Gala, an event that highlights the importance of child welfare in the area.

Paul O’Dwyer, chairman of the Montague County Child Welfare Board, said the organization has been a vital part of the county and its community for 20 years. He explained that they now aim to increase awareness of the county child welfare board, so people know they are there to help children in need. O’Dwyer encourages residents to support the board, either by volunteering or by becoming a member and helping make decisions.

When you walk through the doors of the Montague Child Welfare House, it is much more than a house; it is a place where children find peace. Vice Chairman Austin Wright said that through their upcoming fundraising event, the Long Star Light Gala, they hope to raise awareness in helping children who go through abuse.

“I think we all know that knowledge is power and that getting our story out and what we’re doing actually empowers the community to be a bigger part in these kids’ lives. It takes a community to raise children, whether that’s children that have been abused or neglected or anything,” Wright said.

Chairman Paul O’Dwyer said they are planning to build a new child welfare board house for Montague County, allowing them to help more children and families that need support. He said funds raised through the event will go towards clothes for children in need, beds, and more.

“The child welfare board works in partnership with CPS and other organizations to be there with money when money is needed for these children. This gala will not only bring awareness to what we do in the county but also will bring in funds,“ O’Dwyer said.

Wright said that the Lone Star Gala will help alleviate the struggles of at-risk youths by always being there for them. He said in the last 20 years, they have never said no to CPS and have always provided requests that are asked for the children.

“We’ve had upwards 30 to 40 kids in care in the last ten years at one time, and it fluctuates just depending on state legislation. It fluctuates based on the number of kids in need of care, and so we’re just trying to be prepared, overly prepared so that we can meet any need,” Wright said.

Board member Addie Kirkpatrick said that when children are able to access the resources of her organization, it brings a sense of positivity to how she changed lives.

“It means so much. I did not know that the child welfare board was in Bowie for a long time, and then Austin asked me to come be a part of it. It’s really changed my perspective on a lot of things, so being able to help out these kids is huge,” Kirkpatrick said.

The inaugural gala will be held on March 21 at 6 p.m. in the Bowie Community Center. For more information, you can follow the Facebook page of the Montague County Child Welfare Board.