Giving Tuesday 2018: Give like your community depends on it. It does.

Save the Date: #GivingTuesday, November 27, 2018

Shopping has started, the carols are playing, and trees are up. For many of us, the holidays are a time for family, food, gifts, and love.

For the kids in our program, the holidays aren’t always a joyous occasion. The children who come to us have experienced abuse and neglect so severe, they’ve been removed from their homes.  

These kids are oftentimes without even the most basic winter necessities like coats, snow boots, and properly fitting clothes.

That’s where you and #GivingTuesday come in.

This year for #GivingTuesday, we are aiming to raise $5,000 to provide these children with the things they’ll need to make it through our cold NEPA winters.

Thanks to a partnership with AllOne Charities, on Tuesday, November 27, we will be collecting donations which will enable our 29 advocates to purchase exactly what the kids on their cases need.   

Our volunteer advocates work tirelessly on behalf of the nearly 50 children in our program to make sure they are safe, secure, and given the opportunity to thrive. We know that every child needs at least one loving, supportive adult in their lives. We also know they need to have their basic needs met.

Your donation this #GivingTuesday can make that happen.

The children in our program live right here in our own community. We see them in the grocery store, they might go to school with your kids, they are our future.

While we might not be able to give them a holiday season filled with piles of presents, we can give them the gift of warmth and kindness.

To donate on this #GivingTuesday, visit AllOne Charities by clicking here.  

Advocate Spotlight: Janette Kellmer

The minute Janette Kellmer heard about CASA – which was at a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey game – she knew that this was her volunteer opportunity.

So she signed up for training and was alarmed at the statistics plaguing children in the foster care system.

There are currently 440 children in foster care placement in Luzerne County because of abuse and neglect. Our goal is to provide a court appointed special advocate for each of those children. Someone who will be there for them. Who will speak up for what is in their best interest and help them to find a safe, loving, stable, permanent home.

Once Janette learned of the need for CASA volunteers, she knew she could not turn her back on the children for whom she advocates.

Janette was sworn-in as a court appointed special advocate in January of this year. Her case is difficult and complicated, but she’s been working hard to ensure the well-being of the children she’s working with.

“The most important thing to me in this case is making sure my kiddos are safe from neglect and abuse,” she said. “Their young lives haven’t been easy.”

Because of the number of children and the work involved, Janette shares her case with another CASA volunteer which allows each of them to be as dedicated to the children as possible.

That dedication is noticed and appreciated by foster parents Adam and Sara. 

 “These kids have been in and out of care for four years now,” Adam said. “Janette is the first person we’ve had who’s come forward to advocate for the kids. It’s really great to have somebody who’s not worried about this or that – she’s just there to look out for the kids. She really does a great job.”

Shannon Joyce, Janette’s advocate coordinator, has only positive things to say about Janette’s work as well.

“Janette has been a pleasure to work with,” Shannon said. “She has dedication that is so apparent in the relationships she has developed with her kiddos and all parties in this case. Janette has tenacity and passion for the work she is doing.”

In addition to her hard work on her case, Janette also feels strongly about getting CASA’s message out into the community.

 “I wish potential advocates knew how many children are in need locally,” she said. “The needs of the children CASA helps are complex. Yet you can be the one bright spot in their life, there just to see them, listen to them, or read to them.”

If you want to join Janette in this mission, we’d love to hear from you. Please call us at (570) 855-2247 or email us at office@luzernecasa.org.

Janette lives in Mountain Top with her husband David, their daughter Kylie, and their rescue dog, Zoltan the Great.