As summer wound down and a new school year approached, CASA of the Eastern Panhandle wanted to send its youth off in style. The result was the Hoodies & Haircuts event, a back-to-school celebration designed to make each young person feel confident, cared for, and ready to take on whatever the year ahead brings.
The day was filled with energy, laughter, and the kind of joy that comes from a community that genuinely wants to see its young people thrive. And none of it would have been possible without the generous partners who made it happen.
The Partners Who Made It Possible
Every element of the day came together because local businesses and community members chose to show up. Here is a look at the people behind the celebration.
- Country Roads Creations: provided custom hoodies so every participant could head into the school year in style. There is something powerful about wearing something made just for you, and these hoodies delivered exactly that.
- Meghan Telford, owner of Headquarters: gave each youth a fresh haircut before the school year began. Walking into the first day of school feeling confident and put-together matters more than most people realize, and Meghan made sure that happened.
- Goodies on Wheels: kept everyone cool with delicious ice cream treats throughout the day.
- The Bully Guys LLC: brought a mechanical bull that gave participants an experience they will not soon forget.
- The Jumping Bean: provided an inflatable activity center that kept the fun going from start to finish.
To every partner who contributed: thank you. You did not just sponsor an event. You invested in the confidence and well-being of young people who needed to feel celebrated before stepping into a new chapter.
More Than a Party
Events like Hoodies & Haircuts are about more than a fun afternoon. For youth who have experienced instability, transitions like the start of a school year can carry a weight that other kids do not feel in the same way. A new classroom, a new teacher, new social dynamics, all of it on top of everything else they are already navigating.
When a community wraps around those young people and says, we see you, we are rooting for you, and we want you to walk in there with your head held high, that message lands. It builds the kind of confidence and sense of belonging that helps young people engage, persist, and succeed.
That is what this day was about. And it is what CASA-EP’s Fostering Futures Forward program is about every single week.
About Fostering Futures Forward
Fostering Futures Forward is CASA-EP’s youth development program, designed to support young people in foster care as they build the skills, connections, and confidence they need to thrive. Through weekly sessions, participants explore topics like identity, goal setting, emotional wellness, leadership, and life skills, all in a safe and supportive environment where they are known by name and valued for who they are.
The program also connects youth to experiences and opportunities they might not otherwise have access to, from field trips and community events to professional development and mentorship. Events like Hoodies & Haircuts are one expression of that broader mission: to ensure that every young person in CASA-EP’s care feels supported not just in the courtroom, but in everyday life.
Supporting Fostering Futures Forward means investing in young people at a critical stage of their development. Research consistently shows that youth who have access to stable relationships, enriching experiences, and consistent adult support are more likely to complete school, avoid involvement in the justice system, and go on to lead healthy, connected lives.
The need is real and the opportunity to make a difference is right here in our community. Every dollar donated, every hour volunteered, and every business that chooses to partner with CASA-EP is part of that story.
To learn more about Fostering Futures Forward or to support CASA-EP’s work, visit mycasaep.org/fostering-futures/
