Tonya L. Childs is a soft-spoken woman with a big heart.

She understands the emotional roller coaster families go through when a child is missing. She now dedicates her time and talents as a volunteer to help the Catena L. Parker Foundation, a support group for families of missing children.

Ms. Childs is coordinator of the foundation’s 21st Annual Walk-A-Thon on Saturday, Oct. 14. The event is designed to raise awareness of the growing number of missing children and to let the public know that a local organization stands ready to help families during a time that can take its toll emotionally and financially.

Since Jan. 1, more than 238 children have gone missing in Virginia, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

“Having outside resources is comforting,” Ms. Childs says.

When her 3-year-old nephew, Tyreek Davis, went missing in 2004, D. McCoy Parker, who started the Catena L. Parker Foundation, reached out to Ms. Childs.

“It was different,” Ms. Childs said. “He told me that he understood and he did because of what happened to his daughter. That’s why he started the foundation.”

Catena Parker was a 17-year-old honor student at Richmond Community High School. She was taking college courses at Virginia Commonwealth University when she was abducted on her way home on Sept. 18, 1990. Her remains were found behind the Science Museum of Virginia on Jan. 6, 1991. To date, her abductor has not been caught.

The foundation was started by the Parker family shortly afterward, on Jan. 23, 1991.

Ms. Childs is still grateful for the assistance she received following the disappearance of her nephew. “It was nice to be able to talk to someone who has gone through the range of emotions people have when a child is missing — the anger, the sadness,” Ms. Childs says. “Mr. Parker and the rest of the members (of the foundation) understood the emotional stress I was going through.”

Two years later, it was discovered that her nephew had been murdered by her sister’s boyfriend, she says. The foundation continued to help Ms. Childs through the grieving process.

She attended the foundation’s monthly meetings and then decided to take an active role with the foundation. “I wanted to give to others what was given to me,” Ms. Childs says.

In addition to coordinating the annual walk, Ms. Childs also organizes the foundation’s monthly support meetings for families held 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Science Museum of Virginia. The museum, she says, donates the meeting space.

The foundation helps raise public awareness of child safety. It offers child identification cards to families to record vital information about their child, along with a photo, that can be readily available in case of an emergency. The foundation also provides assistance searching for a missing child and helping families with financial and emotional needs.

“For families of missing children, it’s important that they are aware there is a place they can go for support,” Ms. Childs says.

Meet this week’s Personality and advocate for missing children, Tonya L. Childs:

Occupation: Sales support manager, Bank of America Merchant Services.

Date of birth: July 20.

Current residence: Henrico County.

Education: Business-travel degree.

Family: Two daughters, Salinda Childs, 24, and Lynelle Childs, 22, and one grandson, Jayden Alston-Childs, 6.

No. 1 volunteer position: Coordinator, Catena L. Parker Foundation Annual Walk-A-Thon.

Mission of Catena L. Parker Foundation: To provide support and be an emotional outlet for families of missing children.

Some reasons children go missing: Runaways, abductions and acts of violence are reasons some children go missing.

Why the foundation’s annual walk-a-thon is important: To raise awareness about a place that provides support to families that have missing children. It also brings awareness to the increasing number of children that go missing every year.

Who is invited to participate: Everyone in the community.

Other foundation sponsored projects: Child identification fact cards on loved ones, National Night Out events and Missing Persons Day Rally.

How I start the day: I start the day by making sure Jayden gets to school then I go to work. After work, my time is spent with homework and other activities.

I relax by: Watching TV or reading a good book.

A perfect day for me is: Having a clear calendar with nothing scheduled and I’m able to shop or enjoy pampering time.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: I’m a huge sports fan and the one sport that people are surprised I enjoy is NASCAR.

Best late-night snack: Peanut M&Ms.

A quote that I am inspired by is: “You and you alone are the only person who can live the life that writes the story that you were meant to tell. And the world needs your story because the world needs your voice.” – Kerry Washington.

The best thing my parents taught me: Hard work pays off and to keep aiming high to achieve goals.

The person who influenced me the most: My 85-year-old grandmother, Mary Childs, has always worked hard, loves her family and continues to be well respected. She continues to give me life lessons — most importantly to share your talents and time with others.

Book that influenced me the most: “Emotional Intelligence 2.0” by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves.

What I’m reading now: “Trust” by Iyanla Vanzant.

If I had more time, I would: Travel to other countries.

My next goal: To connect with other foundations and nonprofit organizations as I believe there is strength in numbers and we can all continue to learn from one another.