With leaves falling, frost in the air, it definitely feels like fall and the beginning of the holiday season, a time when we start looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas and family gatherings. It’s time for thankfulness and counting our blessings. This is a joyous time for most, but not necessarily for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect and find themselves in foster care. Even if they are with a loving foster family, through no fault of their own, have had their world turned upside down.
That is where CASA of Northeast Oklahoma comes in, to provide support and a voice by appointing a caring adult court-appointed volunteer advocate to help ensure every child who has experienced abuse or neglect can be safe, have a permanent home and have the opportunity to thrive.
“Having been a foster parent, I know firsthand what a difference having a CASA volunteer advocate assigned to your foster child’s case can mean,” said Mark Ogle, CASA of Northeast Oklahoma. “That is why when the opportunity came for me to work directly with CASA, I jumped at the chance to make a difference and help change a child’s story.”
To ensure that CASA of Northeast Oklahoma can continue to make sure a qualified, compassionate adult will be there to fight for and protect a child’s right to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect and to learn and grow in the safe embrace of a loving family, we are respectfully requesting the community’s consideration of becoming a CASA volunteer and/or making a financial donation. Everyone has many options when contributing to nonprofit agencies. CASA of Northeast Oklahoma, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Guidestar.org.
“A wise person once asked me, If not you – who? If not now – when?” said Ogle. “I said, me and now. Please let’s join together and help Change a Child’s Story!”
For information about volunteer opportunities and how you canpersonallyhelp “Change A Child’s Story”, please visit www.casaneok.org/volunteer-your-time or call (918) 923-7276. To make a donation by mail, please write it to CASA of Northeast Oklahoma, 1222 N. Florence Ave., Suite A, Claremore, OK 74017. For donations online, please visit www.casaneok.org and click on the red “Donate Now” button.
About CASA of Northeast Oklahoma:
Incorporated in May 1995, CASA (then Tri-County CASA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, formed serving Rogers, Mayes, and Craig County. The organization is now a regional program serving six counties (Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Ottawa, Rogers, and Washington) in Oklahoma. CASA of Northeast Oklahoma envisions a world where every abused and neglected child has a CASA volunteer appointed to represent his or her best interests, a world where all children have a safe, permanent home and where children experience improved wellbeing.
