For most children, the winter holiday season is a time of joy. Unfortunately for those assisted by CASA, that’s not necessarily the case.
The organization recruits, trains and supports volunteers to be Court Appointed Special Advocates for children who are victims of abuse and neglect.
In an effort to spread some cheer and raise some money, CASA of Southwest Missouri each year accepts artwork from students in the area to be used for a collection of holiday cards, which the organization then sells to raise money for their mission. All proceeds go toward developing volunteers for children.
This year’s artists are from Springfield, Nixa, Branson, Houston, Fair Play and Pierce City schools.
Many local businesses are regular customers for the CASA holiday cards, but surprisingly, one of the longest-tenured customers is more than 600 miles away from Springfield.
Security State Bank and Trust, in Marble Falls, Texas, has been a supporter of CASA for years, said Glee Brown, vice president and administrative officer.
“We always have a sponsor angel tree,” she said. “And we always buy the cards.”
They used to buy them from a more local CASA branch, but that group stopped printing cards a few years ago. So bank officials went to the internet for answers.
They found CASA of Southwest Missouri.
“We are just so thankful to CASA, whether they’re here (in Texas) or anywhere else,” Brown said. “All those kids deserve it.”
Brown said she’s had family and friends who have fostered and adopted children, and she’s heard stories from CASA volunteers of how difficult that life can be for children.
“We admire those volunteers,” she said.
Local students whose art was chosen for cards this year include: Valen Rieta, Anna Fudge and Emma Snow of Nixa, Aidan Harper and Ben Brown of Branson, Maddison Kuhn and Selena Christakos of Fair Play, Chloe Blackburn of Pierce City, Saydie Hughes of Houston and Charissa Moser and Lillie Chapey of Springfield Lutheran.
To order online or download the order form, visit www.casaswmo.org. For more information, call Julie Good at 417-864-6202, ext. 102, or email jgood@casaswmo.org.
SPRINGFIELD NEWS-LEADER