The Sarah Reed Children's Center has been around for 145 years.

It began as a "home for the friendless," and has grown and expanded to include 7 locations around Erie County with many programs to help traumatized and at risk children from our area, and all around the state.

Chief Executive Officer Jim Mando  says the mission of the center is to help kids be kids.

He said, "We are trying to make children whole and trying to give them a level playing field, if you will."

It is not easy. Most of the kids in the residential program have serious emotional or psychological problems.

Mando said, "Some of the kids are very angry and strike out, and other kids are withdrawn and depressed. We have other kids with self harming behaviors."

Sarah Reed has 300 employees to help an average of 1700 children every year.

Some live in the residential unit in Millcreek while others get help in the agency's many other programs.

Employees say while the work is challenging, it is also gratifying when they see progress being made.

Vice President of Clinical Services Eric Schwartz, Psy.D. said, "It is really the thing that keeps us going here. The kind of progress the kids can make and the families too."