TIFTON — I want child abuse to stop. It’s not fair that we get Christmas and kids that get abused don’t” These are the words of 9-year-old Briana McCrimmon, who is willing to do whatever it takes to stop children from being abused.

Her crusade started without even the direction of her Dad or Mom, Josh and Nikki McCrimmon, as she wrote a letter about becoming aware of what horrible things are being done to children. She stated that children do not deserve to be treated like some are and that she wants it to stop. This letter quickly became a petition that Briana urged others to sign if they would also be willing to help put an end to child abuse. She received numerous signatures from school and also her Dad’s workplace.

Briana said she felt as though she still had not done enough so she made her very own signs for jars that she placed at Esco’s Food Store in Ty Ty and Excelsior to raise money for Christmas gifts to be bought for children that have been abused. Briana stated, “I want to thank everyone that donated money and that signed my petition. If we all keep working together we can stop children from being hurt.”

Nikki McCrimmon explained, “At first I was concerned about Briana’s letter and wanted to know what sparked such an interest towards her battle against child abuse. She told me that she had been hearing about children her own age being abused in their homes and she did not want that to ever happen again to another child. Briana has come up with all the ideas on her own about what she wanted to do and her Dad and I fully support her.”

Briana’s efforts and devotion raised over $100 that was given to the Patticake House Suitcases for Kids Project that is designed to help provide Christmas gifts to foster children in Tift, Turner, Irwin, Worth and Ben Hill counties. Children that have been interviewed at the Patticake House or that have been provided shelter at Ruth’s Cottage are also assisted if they meet the financial criteria.

“When I heard the young voice of Briana on the other end of the line telling me her plans to stop child abuse, I was taken over by tears. This angelic little 9-year-old girl that should have been thinking about the next Justin Beiber song coming out was instead working diligently on a plan to end abuse against children. Briana’s efforts and devotion at such a young age to stop children from being abused should inspire all of us.

Briana, accompanied by her Mom and Dad, went to the Georgia State Patrol Post where the Suitcases for Kids Project is coordinated and personally presented me as the representative of the Patticake House with the money that Briana had raised. The money was used to purchase Christmas gifts for children assisted by the project.

Briana insists she will continue to help children and bring awareness to the community that no child should be abused.



Melissa Wood is the forensic interviewer at the Patticake House.