Written by Amanda Coers – Jamie Williams grew up in the foster care system and is looking to give back during the second annual “Breaking Chains” event to be held on April 15th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Greater Faith Community Church at 417 Wesley Street in Brownwood.

Williams has helped host similar events in Arlington for four years, and has also worked with the Family Services Center in Brownwood to coordinate the “Day in the Park” event in years past.

“When I came back to Brownwood from Arlington, I wanted to continue what I was doing there. I went to my pastor, Charles Lowe, and we began working on the Breaking Chains event,” said Williams.

The Breaking Chains event will feature vendors from local businesses, hosting carnival style booth games. Vendor spots are still available, and Williams is hoping to have at least 15 different booths. There is no charge to set up a booth, as long as the vendors feature a game for children to enjoy during the event.

Sausage wraps will be available at no cost, courtesy of the church. Popcorn, cotton candy, and snow cones will be available for .50¢ during the event. A bounce house will be featured, with rides offered for $1. Any money raised will help fund future events.

Several free raffle drawings will also be held at the Breaking Chains event, with prizes ranging from certificates to local restaurants, to luggage from Burkes Outlet, and even a certificate to a Painting with Friends event.

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Children from the Greater Faith Community Church will periodically read statistics regarding child abuse during the event, and Jamie Williams will share her personal story about surviving abuse and growing up in the foster care system.

“I was molested, and eventually taken away from the family, put into foster care. But I haven’t become a statistic,” Williams shared. “You can do better things than go out and get on drugs, or get involved in criminal activity.”

The Greater Faith Community Church offers their “Honor House,” for children transitioning into adulthood to learn life skills such as cooking, budgeting, shopping, and more. Often children raised in foster care will leave the system with little to no knowledge of how to operate in their adult life. Information about the Honor House will be available during the Breaking Chains event.

To become a vendor, or for more information about the event, call: 325-200-2562