Consider benefits of Pick. Click. Giving.

We said yes when Jen Burkmire, executive director of The Children’s Place, called inviting us to send a reporter to cover a get-together last week when the organization’s multi-disciplinary team signed a new three-year “memorandum of understanding” outlining their responsibilities.

It’s not exactly a riveting storyline, but it is an important one for our community.

For the last 14 years, a team of mental health workers, police agencies, Alaska State Troopers, the local district attorney, the state Attorney General’s Office and the juvenile justice system have participated in the team as a way to share information and enhance communication. Its mission is “to protect children in a nurturing environment by facilitating a collaborative approach for the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of child abuse and neglect.”

The Children’s Place is important because it works with children who have been the victims of abuse and neglect. The nonprofit provides evaluations for children up to age 18 who live in the Mat-Su Borough and outlying areas served by the Mat-Su Office of Children’s Services.

Because of the confidentiality issues associated with the type of work this agency does, it is often absent from our pages. So when Burkmire called and invited us to their signing event last week, we said yes primarily as a way to share with readers what may be new information for them: The Children’s Place exists.

Funding comes from the state Department of Health and Social Services, The National Children’s Alliance, United Way of Mat-Su, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Mat-Su Borough — Human Services Community Matching Grant and contributions from local businesses and individuals.

Last year, Alaskans gave $6,125 to The Children’s Place through the “Pick. Click. Give.” campaign, which allows Alaskans to share a portion of their Permanent Fund Dividends with Alaska nonprofits. In the Mat-Su, 61 organizations are on the list, many of them for the first time.

Statewide, Alaskans pledged gifts totaling more than $2.2 million through Pick. Click. Give.

Locally, the list includes our libraries in Palmer, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Big Lake and Willow, the senior centers in Palmer, Wasilla and Houston, the Palmer Arts Council, Valley Charities, United Way of Mat-Su, American Red Cross and animal rescue groups such as Advocates for Dog and Puppy Wellness, Alaska Assistance Dogs, Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue, Alaska Equine Rescue, Alaska Wildbird Rehabilitation Center and Meadow Gates Farm Sanctuary.

If you sign up online for this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend, consider sharing part of your annual oil royalty check to support nonprofits like these that help strengthen the fabric of our community.