Lincoln County CASA Volunteer Discovers Meaningful Work Helping Abused and Neglected Kids

CASA Volunteer Pat Bennett

Pat Bennett spent his career working across Kentucky, including at a bowling ball factory, the Corvette factory in Bowling Green and with General Electric in Louisville. Once he retired, he wanted to do something with his free time that would be good for the state he loves.

“I’ve replaced being busy at work with being busy as a CASA volunteer,” Bennett said. “It has been very rewarding.”

Bennett had known about Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs for years, so once he had time, he signed up for a training class to become a volunteer. He has been a volunteer with the CASA program serving Lincoln and Garrard counties for about nine months now.

“It makes you feel good to know that you’re helping a kid,” he said.

CASA volunteers are matched with abused and neglected children who need someone advocating for their best interests. Most volunteers take one case at a time and volunteer for 5 to 10 hours every month.

While the flexibility of the volunteer work allows people working full-time to take on a case and help a child, Bennett has used his extra free time to take on two cases at once, visiting and advocating for six children in two families.

Bennett’s Volunteer Manager Jennifer Lamb provides support whenever he needs it in both of his cases. Because of his dedication to helping his CASA kids, she nominated him for Volunteer of the Month in the seven-county region served by CASA of Lexington — a distinction he received this month.

“Pat is willing to take on any task and brings much-needed optimism to his work,” Lamb said. “He is a consistent source of support for the older children and a friendly face for the younger ones. He meets each challenge with confidence.”

Bennett said he first realized just how rewarding serving as a CASA volunteer can be when he was getting ready to leave after visiting some of his CASA children, and one of the boys ran up and demanded a hug goodbye.

“This is why CASA volunteers do what they do. It lets you know you’re doing what you should be doing,” he said. “You don’t put in nearly as much as what you get back.”