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NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) –  Tuesday, May 3, is Give NOLA Day, where more than 700 non-profit organizations in our city are all hoping you give some money to help support them.

News with a Twist Reporter Kenny Lopez wanted to profile one non-profit that you may not know much about – Family and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC).

Getting locked up as a child is not only horrible for the child, but for the child’s family and friends.  There’s a local non-profit organization, Family and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC), which aims to help those affected most.

“We started the program after families called being in distress after their kids made their way into the juvenile system.  These parents were seeking services and support because they couldn’t find any,”  Gina Womack, executive director and co-founder of FFLIC, said.

She said a few of the most important things the organization does is provide support and offer leadership development to help families rehabilitate their kids who found themselves in trouble with the law.  Ultimately, preventing other kids from getting involved in the juvenile justice system is a major goal.  To help with that, they have positive youth mentors like Antonio Travis.

“I speak at events and provide outreach in neighborhoods that most people are afraid of,” he said. “I want to talk to the youth in these neighborhoods and meet them where they are at and show them support in whatever they’re going through.”

Giving up is not an option.  The folks at FFLIC said they believe that the only way to break the vicious cycle is to change it.

“I can’t give up because we would never thrive as a community, a city, or a nation if people give up,” he said.

“Our ultimate goal is to keep kids out of prison in the communities.  We are fighting for kids and want programs that’ll keep children growing and thriving,” Womack said.

There are 713 non-profit organizations participating in Give NOLA Day.  The Greater New Orleans Foundation is in charge of hosting Give NOLA Day, and they are hoping to raise $4.5 million.

To learn more about Give NOLA Day and how to help, click HERE.

To learn more about Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children, click HERE .

FFLIC has been empowering families and children for 15 years.