Bourbon County Community Sponsors 57 CASA Children at Angel Tree Lighting

Paris, Ky. (November 6, 2020) – Bourbon County community members stepped up to make the holidays a little brighter for 57 abused or neglected children Friday morning.

All of the children on the CASA Angel Tree at Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick were picked within minutes at a special tree-lighting ceremony held at the Paris dealership.

Sponsors who chose a child from the tree will purchase gifts for the child from his or her wish list. CASA of Lexington, which advocates for the children in Bourbon County family court, will deliver the sponsors' gifts to the children's caretakers in time for the holidays.

"It's just such a blessing to have an opportunity like this once again," said Josh Cummins of Dan Cummins. "... You don't have to have a position to be a leader; you just have to capitalize on the opportunities that are in front of you ... you can effect change within yourself, within your home, within your friends, within your community, that will end up changing the world."

Josh Cummins said the gifts purchased by sponsors will be going to "children who simply need to know that they matter."

"They feel like they may not matter deep into their adulthood," he said.

CASA of Lexington recruits, trains and supports court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteers who are appointed by family court Judge Lisa Hart Morgan to cases involving child abuse and neglect in Bourbon County. CASA volunteers often serve as role models and mentors for the children, in addition to being the only ones in the courtroom tasked solely with advocating for the child's best interests.

This was the fourth year that Dan Cummins has hosted the CASA Angel Tree event. This year looked a little different because of the pandemic: Attendees congregated outside, wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Catered meals were provided in individual packages for attendees to take with them.

"2020 definitely has been a year where sometimes — have you felt hopeless?" Josh Cummins asked. "... It's been a year where we feel like we have no power over so many things."

But the Angel Tree event is one way people can take action and feel a little less hopeless, he continued.

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison picked up on that theme when she explained what the lives of some CASA children are like.

"I have to stop and think about the children we serve. It's not 2020 that's full of changes for them — they live amidst changes their entire lives, often," she said. "For us, a child could be in seven foster homes in six months."

Josh Cummins' brother, Dusty, also encouraged those in attendance to think about how good their lives have been, and to give back generously to those in need.

"Every single one of us is just completely blessed," he said. "Help the children, please."

Jamison said CASA of Lexington is extremely grateful to Dan Cummins for the support they have provided over the years and the role they played in bringing CASA services to Bourbon County. The CASA Angel Tree event is one way community members can help make things a little less chaotic and little happier for children in need, she said.

"These children often stay in the community after they turn 18 and become adults," she said. "So why would we not do everything we can to make them contributing community members and productive members of Bourbon County?"