The Department of Human Resources is coordinating the sales of a boxed lunch sale to help fund children’s advocacy services.

Lesa Syler said Safe Harbor, located in Butler County, provides child advocacy services for child victims in Covington County while locals are working to get a local center established.

“They do all of our forensic interviews when there are allegations of child sexual abuse or severe physical abuse,” Syler said. “Especially when those claims might lead to prosecution.”

To help supplement the grant funding DHR receives from the Children’s Justice Task for the services, a boxed lunch fundraiser is set for next Wednesday.

“We started this fundraiser in Greenville,” Syler said.

There, she said, it’s a twice-annual event in which approximately 1,000 lunches are sold.

The boxed lunch will include “Chicken Shack” chicken salad from Luverne, a fresh fruit bowl, pickles, a yeast roll, dessert and utensils, plus a bag of chips. The boxes are $7 each, and can be delivered to businesses that order in advance.

All of the funds raised go to Safe Harbor, she said, adding that the local DHR referred approximately 50 children to them for forensic interviews last year.

“The majority of those cases involved allegations of child sexual abuse,” she said.

Safe Harbor also provides follow-up counseling if it is needed.

So far, Syler said, the public has been receptive to the fundraiser.

Lunches are available for pick-up at Southside Baptist Church or delivery on Wed., March 12, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

To order, call Sandy Gibson at 427-7900 or email her at Sandra.gibson@dhr.alabama.gov. The deadline for ordering is Monday.