There’s a waiting list for tickets to this year’s Central Kansas CASA Chocolate Auction, which is only fitting concerning the growing number of children on waiting lists for Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASAs. Jennifer Gregg, the executive director of the local nonprofit organization, said she’s sorry to turn people away from the popular Chocolate Auction, set to take place Saturday, Feb. 11 in Great Bend, but she’s grateful for the public support.
It’s for a good cause, after all. CASAs are trained volunteers who serve as a child’s voice in court in cases of abuse or neglect.
“Court Appointed Special advocates are regularly assigned to children that are placed in the foster care system but there can be children that are so placed at home as well,” Gregg explained at a recent Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Coffee. “Essentially we are the eyes and ears of the judge and the voice of our children that we serve in a court setting.
“Our agency covers the 20th Judicial District, including five counties, Barton, Ellsworth, Rice, Russell and Stafford County. We have three employees, Virginia Fulbright, our bookkeeper and organizer extraordinaire, and Carrie Hammeke, our fantastic volunteer coordinator, and then myself as the director.”
Gregg invited anyone who would like to learn more about being a CASA volunteer to contact her at the office, 1125 Williams St. in Great Bend, call 620-792-5544 or email director@ckcasa.org. Learn more online at the Kansas CASA website, kansascasa.org.
People can also get involved as board members or chocolate auction committee members.
Raffle and Golden Doodle
“As I’m sure many of you have heard, our 18th annual chocolate auction fundraiser is right around the corner,” Gregg said at the coffee hour back on Jan. 26. “Our amazing crew of chocolate auction ladies has done a fantastic job pulling together the biggest party of the year as we like to say and, as always, our decorating crew has knocked it out of the park. I can’t wait for you guys to see. We are completely sold out for that event, which is a wonderful problem to have, but we’re sad to have to turn people away .”
However, people can still buy tickets for CASA’s “Toes in the Sand” raffle, which includes round-trip airfare and car rental, and a four-night stay for two at Emerald Coast in Destin, Florida. Tickets are $25 each or five tickets for $100.
People also don’t have to be present at Saturday’s chocolate auction to bid on a golden doodle puppy. The winner will get first choice of three litters courtesy of Magnolia Doodles, along with a care package from Animal Medical Center including all necessary vaccinations, initial wellness check, spay or neuter at approximately 6 months and a large bag of dog food.
The purchaser will be subject to breeder approval and signatures will be required for a care agreement, as sponsors remind people that the purchase of an animal is a lifetime agreement (approximately 15 years).
Contact the CASA office for more information if you are considering bidding on this donation.
