For those of you who might not know what the word CASA represents, it is this: Court Appointed Special Advocate. The Jackson County CASA website states, “CASA volunteers are well-trained, everyday citizens appointed by judges to advocate for the safety and well-being of children who have come under the care of Child Welfare due to parental abuse and/or neglect. CASA volunteers speak up for these children and work hard to better their lives. Children helped through CASA and the court system are far less likely to experience re-abuse, spend less time in foster care, and receive needed services more often. CASA volunteers have helped more than two million children nationwide find safe, permanent homes.” (http://www.jacksoncountycasa.org/)
I’d been thinking about CASA and how I wanted to recognize that agency for what they do to support and protect children but I didn’t know who to give a pie to. About a week ago I sent an email to a colleague who is a CASA volunteer to ask him to suggest someone as a pie recipient. I thought that he might bring me the name of someone in administration or perhaps a child in the system. Instead he wrote back and told me that his wife, Beverly, was the best CASA he knew. Then he told me that she had been advocating for a very young child and spent many hours working on behalf of that child. I thought, “Who better to receive a pie?”
This afternoon, I called Beverly at work to make sure that she would be in, and luckily she was. A short time later I arrived at her business and walked in with a Marionberry Lattice Topped Pie. The first thing she said was that her daughter would be so excited when she found out about the pie. Isn’t that interesting? I had brought her a pie and immediately she was thinking about sharing it with her daughter. I think that one sentence speaks volumes about why Beverly is a great CASA.
Before I left Beverly today, she shared this good news about the child that she watches over – the adoption process has been set in motion for that child to stay with his foster parents. This is the happy ending that we want for every child… and I am grateful to all the CASA volunteers who work to make it happen.
Pie a Day Give Away 
Karen — You have a knack for finding all of our area’s wonderful gems. CASA certainly is one! Please keep up the good work of enlightening us as to what other are doing to help and how we may get involved. C.
Thanks Chris… and please be sure to send me a suggestion for a pie recipient (or cause) if you have one!
Thank you for helping CASA and making our small part of the world so special with your pies. Finding our gifts and showing them to others is a tribute to all people that make a difference in so many lives. Each small step every day by so many different people makes the large picture possible. Taking the first step is so important. You may find within yourself a gift or talent to share that you did not even know would make a difference. Like so many organizations, CASA will always have the need for volunteers to use their gifts.
Beverly,
Thank you – and thanks to all the CASA’s – for putting in the time to make sure the children get the care and safety that they deserve. I hope the pie was up to Kendra’s expectations.
best,
Karen