By Brandi Makuski

Brea Bierman is mature for a 12-year-old.

The Madison Elementary student has a history of donating her old toys to local child victims of domestic violence; for spring break last year, she asked to tour the Family Crisis Center on West River Drive.

Mother Trina currently works in the Mental Health Navigation Program at CAP Services, but previously worked at the shelter next door, which gave her daughter a unique perspective into the lives of children living there.

“She would always pack up Barbie dolls and make little packages for the kids in the Crisis Center,” Trina Bierman said. “She would write little notes an stick them in there, saying they were loved and supported.”

This year Brea wanted to do something a little different, Trina said.

“She said, ‘I want to do some kind of event where kids can bring donations of money so we can buy stuff for kids at the Crisis Center’, Trina Bierman said. “She’s really involved in the arts and theater, and wanted to support the arts for those kids.”

Earlier this year, Brea won a $50 check in a “Youth of the Month” contest held by the Stevens Point Noon Optimist Club — money she used to kick off her fundraising efforts.

“I just thought, ‘I want to donate more than that’,” Brea said. “So I thought we could have a fundraiser where people would dress up for Halloween.”

The party was a joint Halloween/birthday celebration — Brea’s birthday is Nov. 3 — comprised of most of the sixth-grade girls from Madison Elementary.

Bierman’s Halloween/birthday party on Oct. 27 was held in the family’s garage. (Contributed)

“I invited them to dress up, and instead of bringing gifts for my birthday they could bring donations for the Family Crisis Center,” she said.

Along with cash donations from Kiwanis and Rotary groups, Trina Bierman said, her daughter raised about $1,200.

The two used the money to purchase gifts of art supplies and craft kits from Michael’s; they purchased movie passes at local cinemas, and gift cards for Clay Corner and other local businesses.

“We’re also buying some gift cards for Walmart because she said, ‘What if there are moms who can’t buy their kids Christmas gifts this year?'” Trina said. “You really have to know my daughter — this was her deal, I just helped.”

Trina Bierman said the effect of domestic abuse on children often go undiscussed; they’re the most vulnerable, and the least able to change their situation. They aren’t always direct victims of abuse, she added, but many have watched a mother or other family member be abused — and that can be even more traumatic.

Since the beginning of 2016, the Family Crisis Center has served 189 children, according to Trina Bierman. Even though she’d previously worked at the shelter, she had to double-check the number because it’s just that hard to believe.

“That’s just the youth section, the ones who stay there with the moms who are victims of domestic violence,” she said. “It’s just unreal.”

“I feel really bad they have to go through that, and have to leave their home because someone’s being violent, that’s just horrible,” Brea said. “But I thought [the Family Crisis Center] was a wonderful place where people could stay, and maybe this donation can make them feel a little more comfortable in that space.”

Brea Bierman said she plans to become a lawyer so she can help families fleeing domestic violence.

For more information on the Family Crisis Center, click here.