Students in the Pooler Elementary School Chorus turned holiday carolers last week to help the Georgia Ports Authority wrap up its annual CASA gift campaign.
Angela Powell, Pooler Elementary music teacher, said the student chorus members had been practicing the program since September, largely in sessions before school and at home. Their medley included traditional favorites, as well as songs for peace.
The GPA/CASA gift drive, benefitting children under the care of Court Apppointed Special Advocates, is in its 11th year.
Case workers at CASA supply the Port Authority with wish lists for children and youth ranging in age from newborn to 16 years.
“CASA performs a vital service, looking after the interests of abused and neglected children,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz. “This program allows us, in small way, to take part in their important mission.”
GPA employees, separately and in groups, signed up to sponsor one of 52 children this year. Gift suggestions included clothes, toys, dolls, bikes and computer games.
“This is a tremendous blessing. You all have adopted 52 children, who we know will have Christmas. A lot of times they come from homes where they don’t know where tomorrow’s home will be. Sometimes they move from home to home, and they don’t have anything,” said Charlene Peebles, CASA advocacy coordinator. “It’s so overwhelming, the support you all have given to our CASA children. We couldn’t do it without you.”
CASA develops and supports court-sanctioned, locally-based programs that provide trained and supervised volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court deprivation proceedings.