TOP's Tuesday: May 25 ~ National Missing Children's Day

Yesterday was May twenty fifth. Most of the United States awoke with preparations for Memorial Day parades, services, and picnics but a separate percentage opened their eyes with a prayer for all our missing. I try to blog about National Missing Children's Day each year, as May 25th is it's day of observance. This year I decided to wait until a day later because of the Memorial Day holiday. I enjoyed blogging my reflection of the day, yet I felt like I let Heidi and the other missing children across the globe down. 

I know this isn't the case yet to families of the missing, sometimes to share posters and increase awareness, this is one of few ways to keep the plight of missing and exploited children at the forefront. May 25th is an opportunity to recognize, remember, educate, and be proactive across the nation. While I am posting a day late, per the calendar, it is never to late to remember our missing. Just like we shouldn't wait until Memorial Day or Veterans' Day to remember our fallen soldiers and those this serving. The last statistic I read, 2,000 children go missing EVERY DAY! 

This is a high and alarming statistic, one most don't realize. Only 3% of these are non-family and stranger abductions. My sister, Heidi M Allen, is of this 3% and she remains missing more than 21 years later. Heidi is only one of thousands who remain missing, one reason Missing Children's Day is so Important. Education is key to increase awareness. You will see a new missing child on the news daily and more common today, we are seeing children who put into practice the lessons and strategies taught to them by their parents, educators, and NCMEC during school visits to get away from abductors. Children have avoided dangerous situations because someone took time to talk to them.

Click on the photo below for a direct link to NetSmartz, a resource from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This is a wealth of information for law enforcement, educators, parents, communities, and more. Once on the site, click on the category you are most interested in and you can download and print resources to share with your colleagues, children, and students. You can watch videos. Your children can watch videos. If you are an admin or educator, did you know the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offer FREE workshops to educate and inspire children? This is one way you can protect and be PROACTIVE to educate your students on the risks of abduction, exploitation, and Internet safety. Why not take advantage of this valuable resource?

http://www.netsmartz.org
http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents
http://www.netsmartz.org/Educators

http://www.netsmartz.org/Teens

Below is a video the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children aired for Memorial Day weekend. Out of respect for our lost soldiers, NCMEC didn't do their usual social media thrust of information to increase awareness. They offered this simple, yet powerful video. One way we can remember our missing and exploited children today and everyday is to share a poster.

A woman asked why we continue to share Heidi's poster, since she is presumed dead. The answer is simple, when  a loved one is missing, to share a poster helps to keep hope alive and active. Below the video is a link to search the missing from your state. Will you share one poster of a missing child from your state today? Thank you in advance.

Share a Missing Children's Poster 
from your state on social media - 
use the hashtags #Missing  and #missingchildrensday

Thank you for taking time to share hope 
through a poster today today and throughout the year.