Seniors Find Volunteer Opportunities with FRIENDS OF CASA

CASA, (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Santa Cruz County, recruits, trains, and supervises community volunteers to be the voice of foster youth in the Dependency Court System. After their cases close, many of these volunteers move on to join the Friends of CASA (FOC) organization.

FRIENDS assist in the promotion of CASA’S annual events; For the Love of Children luncheon, Walk for CASA and the fundraising dinner Imagine! Funds raised include a much-needed pool of money for items and services for the kids like gymnastics class, bicycles, membership in a sports or chess club, clothing, or things that foster parents or group homes may not be able to provide. Magi Diego, Director of Development says, ‘“We are so very grateful for the Friends of CASA, amazing community supporters, many of whom are former Advocates. The Friends of CASA help with office tasks, such as mailings, and secure items for our Imagine! auction. Honestly, I would be lost without them!”

Watsonville resident and former advocate Wendy Hurst, 72, took advantage of these funds on several occasions and says that they made a big difference for her kids. She joined Friends of CASA after serving several foster youths as an advocate. “I wanted to continue to support CASA but not take on another youth. For me, FOC is a way to give back to the community by serving in a fundraising capacity for the CASA advocates so we can better meet the needs of their youth.”

Mary Bergthold of Corralitos, 75, was an advocate for fourteen years, representing seven children. As a retired person she felt that she needed to step back and becoming a Friend of CASA was a great option. “It's satisfying to spend time working to help the children, doing it hand in hand with people you admire and become close to. It gets me out of the house and back into the community meeting new people.”

For more information call 831 -761-2956 https://casaofsantacruz.org/support_us/friends-of-casa.html