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While families are coming off the holiday bliss \u2013 often forgotten are the kids in the child welfare system. In 2021 - 8.1 out of 1,000 kids were found to be victims of abuse or neglect.Making it her lifelong mission, author CELESTE L. EDMUNDS fights to protect these children. She is the Executive Director of The Christmas Box International \u2013 an organization with the mission of helping defend children who are abused, neglected, trafficked or facing homelessness. The group has helped over 145,000 kids - equivalent to filling Madison Square Garden over 6 \xbd times!A victim and survivor herself, Edmunds has penned the new book: "Garbage Bag Girl\u201d - showcasing a powerful narrative of triumph over adversity and a journey from darkness to advocacy.Edmunds will discuss her book as well as highlight the child warfare system in our country and what we can do to help protect these kids!The book is co-authored by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Richard Paul Evans \u2013 whose first book was called The Christmas Box which celebrated its 30 years since publication last month (Dec '23)! Evan\u2019s endorsement of this book underscores the significance of Edmunds' narrative.GARBAGE BAG GIRL is a compelling memoir by Celeste L. Edmunds & co-authored by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Richard Paul Evans.This extraordinary book provides readers with an unfiltered and honest account of Edmund's tumultuous journey through a childhood filled with abuse, neglect, and a fractured family system. Edmunds shares her harrowing journey from darkness to advocacy, offering readers a poignant glimpse into the challenges she faced. Her childhood was marked by an ongoing cycle of police calls, fighting, and various forms of abuse. At the tender age of 7, Edmunds was taken into the state's care, entering a child welfare system that subjected her to frequent relocations, each new environment bringing its own set of abuse. Living out of a garbage bag became the norm, and by the time she reached 16, she had called more than 30 cities home."My childhood was a difficult and often unbearable experience where evil manipulation almost broke my spirit. But there were also caring people along the way who stepped in to do what they could to protect and nurture me," said Edmunds. "As an adult, I look back at those moments and realize that they saved my life. My goal is to help as many children as possible in the child welfare system and help to ensure that they have the opportunities for success that I was not provided.""Garbage Bag Girl" is a gripping first-person account that delves into Celeste Edmunds' life, a young woman who, against all odds, found strength and resilience in the face of adversity. Raised by drug-addicted parents, Edmunds learned to protect her siblings in a harsh environment filled with threats from rapists and drug dealers. The state eventually intervened, separating the family, and Edmunds was adopted into a dysfunctional home where she faced mistreatment from a sadistic mother. Contemplating drastic measures, she ran away, seeking shelter wherever she could until a compassionate woman extended a helping hand, offering her a safe and nurturing environment filled with love, and teaching her that is never too late to find \u201cho

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