CASA Joy Tree Event Provides Holiday Gifts for 29 Jessamine County Children
The 29 names on the CASA Joy Tree were gone in a matter of minutes Friday morning, thanks to Jessamine County community members who will be brightening this holiday season for abused and neglected children.
This was the third year for the Jessamine County program, which has a new name – CASA Joy Tree – this year. The program provides gifts for children in family court who might not otherwise have many – or any – gifts to open this December.
“For so many of our kids, they don’t have those opportunities to have traditions and favorite holiday memories,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of Jessamine County’s CASA program. “Through the CASA Joy Tree, you’re giving them those memories.”
The CASA Joy Tree lighting event was held for the second year at Dan Cummins Ford Lincoln in Nicholasville. The Dan Cummins Auto Group is a major donor and supporter of CASA programs in the three counties where it has dealerships.
Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are matched with abused and neglected children. They visit with the children monthly and look for ways the court can improve their lives or find them safe, permanent homes.
Every October, volunteers whose CASA children may go without gifts can add them to the CASA Joy Tree program. Then, Joy Tree kickoffs are held in each of the seven counties served by CASA of Lexington.
The community members who selected the children from the tree will now go shopping for gifts. Then, the CASA volunteers will bring the gifts to the children’s caretakers in time for the holidays.
“We are so grateful for all of the support for Jessamine County’s CASA program and the community involvement in making sure these kids don’t go without this Christmas,” Jamison said.
Even though all Jessamine County CASA children have been selected from the Joy Tree this year, you can still participate in the program by purchasing supplemental gifts from the Joy Tree wish list at www.casaoflexington.org/joytree. You can also sign up to purchase gifts for a CASA child in another county by emailing jbahr@casaoflexington.org or calling (859) 484-6548.
