By Michelle Bates
This Christmas, foster children in the area will receive gifts thanks to the generosity of the communities in Bienville, Claiborne and Jackson parishes.
Each year, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) decorate a Christmas tree – an angel tree – with the ages, clothing sizes and names of little boy or a little girl in the area’s foster care system. By adopting an angel from the tree, participants choose a foster child to purchase unwrapped pajamas and other gifts for them. Deadline to submit the pajamas and gifts is Dec. 4.
This year’s tree is located at The Gathering Place General Store. For those who wish to purchase gifts (unwrapped), drop them off at The Gathering Place General Store, located at 1982 N. Railroad Ave., for the CASA closet. Stockings (and gifts for them), socks and gloves are also greatly appreciated.
Please call Deanna Curtis or McKenzie Turner at 318-263-2292 for all of the details about buying for a CASA Christmas angel.
“We appreciate everyone’s support of CASA,” Curtis said. “By donating these gifts, children in our foster care system will receive the Christmas they should have.”
The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program utilizes volunteers who are appointed by a judge and assigned to a case, to advocate and speak up for the best interest of abused and neglected children in court that have been placed into the foster care system. The CASA volunteer does this by gathering information regarding the child and speaking to all parties involved with the case. The volunteer then appears in court and makes recommendations as to what is in the best interest of the child. The goal is to ensure that the child is placed in a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible.