Kiwanians backs CASA 'Project Graduation for foster kids

MORRISTOWN, NJ-Local Kiwanis clubs of Greater Hamburg, Mount Olive, and Sussex have joined together to support Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Morris and Sussex Counties’ Project Graduation. The clubs are donating money to purchase gift cards which will be distributed to children and teens in foster care graduating from elementary, middle, and high school.
CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties strives to be a strong voice for the best interests of vulnerable children who have been removed from their homes or are under court supervision due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. CASA recruits, trains, and supervises community volunteers to be advocates, mentors, and champions for each child on his or her journey to a safe, permanent, and nurturing home.
Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. The New Jersey District of Kiwanis was established in 1918. Over 99 years later, the New Jersey District remains active with 10 divisions and 80 clubs. The New Jersey Kiwanis family is over 17,000 people strong who share the common bond of serving our local and global communities.
The special feature of Kiwanis is that each club selects its service project based on the needs of that respective community; the members are joined by their desire to perform volunteer service that benefits their locale. The 3 clubs participating in Project Graduation strive to make a positive impact in the lives of children and their communities.
“CASA depends on support from our local community organizations to make a difference in the lives of children in the foster care system,” said CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties’ Executive Director, Lisa Barsky Firkser. “It is wonderful to partner with these Kiwanis Clubs. With their support we are able to truly enhance our advocacy efforts.”
CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties is part of a statewide network of community-based non-profit programs that recruit, screen, train, and supervise volunteers to “Speak Up for a Child” removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. CASA is the only program in New Jersey that uses trained volunteers to work one-on-one with children, ensuring that each one gets the services needed and achieves permanency in a safe, nurturing home. For more information, visit www.casamc.org or call 973-998-7590. For more information on NJ Kiwanis please visit www.njkiwanis.org