WINK News Spotlights Valerie’s House and LCSO’s Effort to Protect Children After Texas Flood Tragedy

We’re grateful to our local media partners for helping share our mission—and this week, we’re especially thankful to WINK News for shining a light on a meaningful moment at our Fort Myers Family is Forever Home.

As part of our planned summer grief support camp activities, Valerie’s House welcomed the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to provide free fingerprinting kits for families—a proactive way to help caregivers prepare in case of an emergency.

While this fingerprinting event had already been scheduled, the tragic flooding in Texas—where more than 100 lives were lost, including 28 children—gave the moment added urgency and emotional weight. For many families, it became a powerful reminder of how quickly life can change.

“I actually sent my kid to sleepaway camp, where she was gone for a week,” said Heather Mammen, a Valerie’s House parent, in her interview with WINK News. “And I can’t imagine having something like that happen… but just that extra step—there’s an extra way to identify, if something were to happen.”

The fingerprint kits are not stored in any law enforcement database. Instead, they’re handed directly to parents or caregivers to keep—just in case they’re ever needed. It’s a small step that can make a big difference in a crisis.

This initiative was about more than just preparedness—it was about protecting children who have already experienced the loss of a loved one, and reminding them and their caregivers that they are not alone.

While this particular event was limited to our summer camp participants, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office offers fingerprinting to the wider community year-round and is open to bringing the service to schools, churches, or other groups upon request.

At Valerie’s House, we believe safety and grief support go hand in hand. We’re proud to stand alongside community partners like LCSO to ensure our families feel cared for—physically, emotionally, and practically.

Thank you again to WINK News for helping us share this story and raise awareness about resources that help protect and support grieving families.