CASA Cookie Walk, wreath auction scheduled Dec. 1

Love Christmas cookies? You won’t want to miss the Lake Country CASA annual Cookie Walk, a holiday-themed event that raises needed money for children. The unique Cookie Walk will be Friday, Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. until noon at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center.

“On that morning, we will have trays and trays of donated cookies, more than you can possibly imagine, ready for the community to select. Some of the beautifully decorated cookies will be made by local professional bakers, and other varieties will be recipe favorites made by home bakers. The many dozens of cookies will be arranged on rows of tables. Just grab a box and go along, picking out the cookies you want. Buy a few cookies or fill several boxes!' CASA Program Director Sarah Goggans explained. 'You may purchase your selections at $10 per pound to take home and enjoy, give away or share with visitors this holiday. In addition to raising money for the needs of Lake Country CASA, the Cookie Walk has really become a holiday tradition, so come early for the best selection.”

There are many ways in which the money raised at the Cookie Walk will be used.

“Needs always come up with the children whom we serve, who have been removed by the court from their homes due to abuse or neglect. These children are sometimes placed in the care of a family member, or in a temporary, foster or group home,” Goggans noted. “Needs might include new shoes, eyeglasses, braces or even summer camp. With nearly 50 children now under the care of Lake Country CASA, this once-a-year fundraiser is important to help us have the money for those ongoing needs.”

“Something that’s a new addition is the Great Wreath Rivalry. A dozen lavishly decorated wreaths donated by artistic members will be a fun part of the fundraiser. After being displayed in the windows of the Chamber of Commerce downtown, the wreaths will arrive at the Cookie Walk, and following a friendly voting competition to decide the 2023 bragging rights of ‘Most Popular Wreath,' each will be auctioned to the highest bidder with proceeds to benefit CASA. Additionally, CASA Christmas sweatshirts in two designs will also be for sale, and pre-orders for these are encouraged, so please check CASA social media pages. All purchases at the Cookie Walk may be made through Paypal, credit card, or local check. And, all proceeds will go toward helping us continue providing quality advocacy for the kids that we serve.”

Goggans noted that though she is not considered a CASA volunteer, she still does serve cases because of the shortage of volunteers. “Being involved with CASA has brought purpose to my life, especially after losing my son in 2021. Making sure these children are placed in safe homes with a family that loves them is of the utmost importance to me. We are reaching out for more volunteers to assist. Our Director, Amy Glenn has been on board since 2021, and Jennifer McCoy, our new Supervisor, has hit the ground running and is doing a great job. We recently lost two long-time volunteers to retirement, Sherry Johnson and Peggy Walker. We are all looking forward to seeing what is in store for Lake Country Casa.”

What is a CASA? A Court Appointed Special Advocate is actually a volunteer advocate assigned to a child during the time that the removal case is involved in the legal system. The volunteer is present and can speak for the child during court dates and while in placement in a temporary home. Representing Hopkins, Rains, and Franklin counties, the advocates make regular personal visits and stay in contact with the children through phone calls. Since the majority of the children have placement outside of Hopkins County, CASA advocates often must drive or even fly for scheduled visits. The Cookie Walk fundraiser helps cover some of those costs. At the current time, 20 CASA volunteers are caring for 47 children, although it is normal practice that each volunteer covers only one case at a time. For more informaiton, visit lakecountrycasa. org or call 903-885--

1173.