Martinsburg, WV 12/16/2022 – Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Eastern Panhandle (CASA-EP) has been awarded a $20,000 outreach grant from Dot Foods in Williamsport, MD. Funds will be used to recruit new volunteers to represent the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Work done under this outreach grant will increase the number of community volunteers available to advocate for children in the court room, in schools, and in the community. Children with a CASA advocate by their side have fewer foster home placements, find permanency faster, do better in school, and have better life outcomes.
“CASA is driven by the belief that every child who is before the court for abuse or neglect should have a court-appointed volunteer advocate,” said Michelle Sudduth, executive director of CASA-EP. ”
CASA-EP serves over 350 children across West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle and brings hope to many of our community’s most vulnerable families. A focus area for 2023 is increasing advocacy efforts to meet the critical needs of at-risk and underserved youth. More volunteers are needed to mentor youth, help them increase their level of connectivity with community and family, improve educational outcomes, and reach stable placements in or outside of the child welfare system.
“While our organization is serving more children and youth than ever before, hundreds more need a volunteer advocate. Through the generosity of Dot Foods, we will launch a comprehensive recruitment and community outreach campaign to find committed adults who are ready to make an extraordinary impact on the lives of vulnerable children,” said Sudduth.
This grant is made possible through Dot Foods charitable giving program. Dot Foods is the largest food industry re-distributor in North America. Through Dot Transportation Inc., an affiliate of Dot Foods, the company distributes foodservice, convenience, retail and vending products to distributors in all 50 states. For more information, visit www.dotfoods.com.
About CASA of the Eastern Panhandle
CASA-EP believes that every child who’s been abused or neglected deserves to have a dedicated advocate speaking up for their best interest in court, at school, and in our community. To accomplish this, CASA-EP educates and empowers diverse community volunteers who ensure that each child’s needs remain a priority in an overburdened child welfare system. Apply, donate, or learn more at www.www.mycasaep.org, call 304-263-5100, or find CASA of the Eastern Panhandle on Facebook.
