Volunteer with local children for MLK

Day of Service

On Monday, Jan. 18, The Child Advocacy Board will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. All community members throughout Iowa are invited to join in celebrating Dr. King’s life through service.

Like other organizations, the CASA Program could not serve the children of Tama, Iowa, Benton, or Linn Counties without our dedicated volunteers. Currently, we only reach 15 percent of the children who need our help. With more volunteers we could reach even more children.

There is no better day than the MLK Day of Service to begin making a difference in the life of a child. Please join our volunteers in celebrating the MLK Day of Service by making it a “day on, not a day off!”

Dr. King envisioned a nation of freedom for all people and encouraged citizens to better this country through non-violent, community improvement. Today we celebrate the MLK Day of Service with that vision in mind.

Each year on this day, hundreds of thousands of individuals come together to solve social problems in their communities. This year, we must make serving children of the community a priority. Research shows that a consistent adult presence in a child’s life encourages the child to stay in school, pursue healthy behaviors, and be a successful, productive citizen into adulthood.

There are many ways to positively impact children in the community. The CASA Program offers the following ideas:

Become a volunteer tutor or mentor.

Read with children at a local library or school.

Donate clothes, toys, or school supplies to children in foster care.

Serve a meal to families at a local shelter.

Become a CASA “Court Appointed Special Advocate” volunteer for children.

On this day of service and throughout the entire year, volunteers from the Iowa Child Advocacy Board will continue working to provide all abused and neglected children in Iowa with a CASA volunteer.

A CASA is a trained community volunteer assigned by a judge to represent the best interest of a child going through the foster care system. CASA volunteers remain with a child until their case is closed and they have been placed in a safe, permanent home.

To get involved or learn more about becoming a CASA, visit us online at CASAIowa.org.