01011996 - News Article - Guardian angel of the innocent - Woman dedicates life to give children a voice in court

Guardian angel of the innocent
Woman dedicates life to give children a voice in court
Post-Tribune
January 1, 1996
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.portagelibrary.info/resources/doc/nb/news/1084D7FFE344CAF9?p=AWNB
Richard and Bea Lightfoot worked throughout their lives, saving money for their nest egg.

But when Richard Lightfoot died of cancer eight years ago, Bea Lightfoot took the money and ran to the aid of children.

Answering a want ad for a volunteer court-appointed special advocate, Lightfoot completed the necessary training and now donates her time in child custody battles.

But she didn't stop there.

Taking her concern for children one step further, Lightfoot created a neutral zone for cases requiring supervised visitations with the non-custodial parent with the opening of Children/Family Center in late October.

''I figured it was Richard's time to go and it was my time to take care of the kids,'' Lightfoot said.

''I would like to change the children so they will be different when they are adults. They have done nothing wrong, yet they are afraid and sad,'' she said. ''We can't change everything right away, but we are working on it.''

Because she opened the center after county budget appropriations were made for 1996, it means that the rent, utilities, telephone bills and wages are paid out of Lightfoot's pocket. The incidentals of raising a family are also financed by Lightfoot. To date she has spent more than $50,000 to get the center up and running.

''I don't mind. I like what I do,'' she said. ''These kids become mine. I want to make everything OK for them.''

Often children show up hungry and cold. Lightfoot feeds and clothes them. With the help of local businesses, 32 family members joined at the center for a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. On Christmas Day more than 60 children were given presents from Santa Lightfoot.

Next year Lightfoot hopes that county appropriations will include the center, but she says she will continue her fight for children as long as money allows.

''I believe every child should see the other parent. If they behave appropriately, then the children should spend weekends with them. But if there are problems, we are here to make sure the children can visit with their parent,'' she said.

Valparaiso's Family House offers supervised visitation, but its operating hours are prohibitive to working parents, said Valparaiso attorney Richard Cagen. That's why Lightfoot's Children/Parent Center, which is open 10 hours a day, seven days a week, is more conducive to family visits, he said.