Every year, the Amarillo Area Foundation hosts the Panhandle Gives event that begins on the Monday before Thanksgiving and ends on Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving. This year the dates are November 25 through December 3.
During this event, local non-profit organizations are eligible to participate and all donations made to the organization through the Panhandle Gives campaign are amplified.
One of the organizations included in this event is CASA of the High Plains, a volunteer-driven organization that is an advocate for children and families throughout the Texas Panhandle, dedicated to enriching their lives and serving as a beacon of hope for neglected and abused children.
The Organization
“We cover eight counties within the Texas Panhandle: Donley, Gray, Roberts, Hemphill, Hansford, Lipscomb, Ochiltree and Wheeler. We advocate for children that are in the foster care system that have been removed from their homes,” CASA Executive Director, Alissha Jefferis said. “We provide volunteers to advocate for those children.”
CASA of the High Plains was started in 1994 by Judge Lee Waters when he found himself conflicted with decisions that were made during court proceedings regarding child protection cases, wondering if he had made the right decision with what information he had.
CASA volunteers act as close to guardian angels as one can get, providing not only basic, tangible needs such as new shoes, glasses or even Senior pictures for their child, but as a safe wing to nurture the child’s emotional needs during their trying times. With the child’s best interest at the forefront of everything they do, CASA volunteers make sure that all reports written and given to the judges are accurate, unbiased, and factual.
The Goal and the Purpose
This year, CASA of the High Plains has set a $20,000 goal through the Panhandle Gives event; a goal they set and met last year.
“This impacts our organization in a way that it’s undesignated money so we can use it to take care of things within our program and for our children that we otherwise would not be able to,” Alissha said. “It’s money that we can have to buy some extra things for the kids so that they can have a normal life. So that’s why it’s really impactful for us-it gives us a way to help the kids in ways they normally wouldn’t be able to be helped with.”
With a total of 14 organizations now participating in the Panhandle Gives event, Alissha is excited to see the list grow, and to witness the generosity of the community and all the organizations working together for each other’s mission is truly humbling.
“It’s a really great community that we live in. People are willing to help so many of the organizations, and it’s a pretty huge accomplishment to have 14 organizations working together to help each other and build up the program.”
As with any non-profit organization, volunteers are always welcome, and CASA of the High Plains is on the search for five volunteers who are willing to dedicate their time to serving the most vulnerable of our community.
Volunteers must be 21 years of age, able to pass a CPS and criminal background check, have to be able to make meetings and visits, make time and travel commitments, among a few other requirements.
For more information on how to become a volunteer, visit www.casahp.org, call 806-669-7638 or visit the office, located at 315 N. Ballard in Pampa Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 3 PM and can meet after hours by appointment.
How to Donate
For more information about how you can donate during the Panhandle Gives campaign starting November 25, visit their website, panhandlegives.org. Donations can also been made through one of the participating banks or by dropping it off by the office during normal business hours.
On November 15 during the Lighting Up the Bricks event in downtown Pampa, all 14 organizations that are participating in the Panhandle Gives campaign will have booths set up in The Well STEAM and Literacy Center located at 213 N. Cuyler where more information will be provided about each organization over a hot cup of cocoa.
Check future editions of The Pampa News for other organization highlights!
