Woodford CASA earns Volunteer of the Month Award

CASA Volunteer Candye Pinkston

A Woodford County CASA volunteer has been named a Volunteer of the Month for the seven-county region served by CASA of Lexington. 

Candye Pinkston has been visiting with and advocating for abused and neglected children in the family court system for three years. One little girl she advocated for just recently had her case close successfully, with Pinkston providing what officials on the case said was “critical” information. 

“She is doing more than just the basic work of volunteering,” said Pinkston’s Volunteer Manager Heather Porter. “She is willing to do anything and everything for this child.” 

CASA volunteers like Pinkston are matched with abused and neglected children with open abuse or neglect cases in Woodford County Family Court. Pinkston visits her matched child monthly, gathers information about the child’s life, and provides reports that include recommendations on what actions would help the child. 

“I originally wanted to be a foster parent, but was not able to make that commitment. Then I heard about CASA,” Pinkston said. “I thought it was a great way to still help children in foster care.” 

Pinkston said the work of being a CASA volunteer is a great way to give back to her community, and it is incredibly rewarding. 

“Meeting with the children I have worked with is a great joy,” she said. “Working to ensure they were in the safest and healthiest environments to grow up has been an amazing feeling.” 

If you would like more information about Woodford County’s CASA program or applying to become a CASA volunteer, visit www.casaoflexington.org.