A longtime collaboration between area attorneys and CASA of the Eastern Panhandle has provided Christmas gifts for hundreds of vulnerable children since the program began 11 years ago. This year, the area gift drive has helped others experience the great joy of giving back.
Begun in 2009 by the Eastern Panhandle Bar Association, the gift drive has become a holiday staple for children who have experienced abuse or trauma in the tri-county region. Led by local attorney Kathy Santa Barbara, the initiative is an effort of area lawyers and CASA-EP staff and volunteers. Santa Barbara, whose practice is located in Martinsburg, has been a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) board member since it was formed in 2003.
“We coordinate with CASA-EP staff and volunteers to determine which children who are in the abuse and neglect system would not have any Christmas, or would have very little if it weren’t for our program,” said Ms. Santa Barbara.
CASA-EP volunteers check with the children and families they serve to make a list of both their wants and needs, she said. Area attorneys are provided the lists and do the shopping, paid for through fundraising efforts of the Eastern Panhandle Bar Association Charitable Foundation.
For volunteer advocate, Cynthia Reiffen, the initiative brings the gift of connection to others.
“I don’t have any little ones in my family at this time,” Reiffen said. “It was so exciting to wrap these gifts and imagine the faces of my CASA kids when they opened them on Christmas. When I delivered the gifts, the children were jumping up and down with such excitement, even though they are not allowed to open them until Christmas.”
Reiffen continued, “I reminded them that they are not alone and that there are grownups who care about kids like them and want them to have a happy Christmas. It was a joyful moment for them to know that someone truly cares about them. It helps restore their trust in humanity, in goodness and love. That’s so rewarding to witness.”
CASA volunteer Cindy Johnson shared, “A mother that adopted children earlier this year called me to donate towards the toys this year because they meant so much to their family. It was the true meaning of ‘pay it forward,’” Johnson said.
The initiative has become an important part of the holidays for those who participate.
“The biggest difference in this year’s drive was the shopping,” Santa Barbara said. “My family’s tradition of shopping together for the kids clearly couldn’t happen this year. I was so surprised when my daughter called me asking about sizes for toddlers’ clothing. She had decided to adopt a family where she lives. This drive is a special part of our holiday.” The college-aged child of another local attorney and CASA-EP Board Member Karen Luttrell went one step further. Their son asked his parents to donate his Christmas money to the Bar Association gift drive for children, instead of spending it on him. “He wants to go to law school and eventually do work in the nonprofit world, so it resonated with him,” said Ms. Luttrell.
Youth range in age from infants up to 17-years old, and $150 is spent per child for gifts. Over 60 children were purchased for this year.
“More than 500 kids have had a Christmas because of this initiative,” recalled Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara remarked on the exceptional response from local attorneys to donate to the effort, as well as the West Virginia Bar Foundation.
This year’s financial support was supported, in part, by a grant from the WV Bar Foundation. Eastern Panhandle attorneys raised over $10,000 for the CASA-EP gift drive and other initiatives.
Tom Tinder, executive director of the West Virginia Bar Foundation, commended the two organizations for their annual endeavor to make a happier holiday season for vulnerable children, especially during the current extraordinary coronavirus pandemic.
Lucien Lewin, a Martinsburg attorney and area board member of the WV Bar Foundation also added that supporting the gift drive fulfills the purpose of the WV Bar Foundation to protect the interests of the public and advance the administration of justice.
“This gift drive fosters the good work of CASA programs and supports efforts to provide a better future for children in our community,” he said.
CASA advocates are appointed by judges to be the eyes and ears for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed, and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home or, when safe and possible, reunited with their biological family.
“For many abused children, their CASA volunteer might be the most constant, loving adult presence in their lives,” said Michelle Sudduth, executive director of CASA-EP. “They have an exceptional role in being that one person who can make a difference.”
A virtual open house will be held on January 21st, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. Those interested in learning more should attend the information session. Registration is available on CASA-EP’s Facebook page, website, or by emailing volunteer@mycasaep.org. Volunteer training courses will begin in February.
