Columnists
Christmas with strangers
By Bonnie Hubert - Mrs. Texas International, 2009
Dec 23, 2009

Have you ever spent the holidays with complete strangers? Thousands of foster children in Texas will do just that this season. Even in these tough economic times, many of us are celebrating and giving thanks for family, friends, health and security. But there are children right here in our communities who, through no fault of their own, are without any of those things this holiday season.

As a crisis counselor and teacher, I have worked with hundreds of abused and neglected children. No matter how many of these children’s stories I hear, each one is just as heartbreaking as the first. Each outcry fills me with anguish and an urgency to protect them.

These children trust me and count on me to get them the help they need. And, after assuring each child that I will do just that, and notifying the appropriate authorities to set the child protection system in motion, I pray that the child will be assigned a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer.

CASA volunteers are ordinary people, from all walks of life, who commit to helping one child or set of siblings through the foster care system and into a safe, permanent and caring home as soon as possible. They are highly trained and supervised by professional staff, appointed by judges, counted on by the child protection system to fill in the gaps, and beholden only to the best interests of the child or children to whom they are assigned.

Each volunteer brings their unique talents to the case, and with compassion, attention, tenacity and focus on the child, CASA volunteers can change the course of a child’s life. Each volunteer greets the child on the first visit with an amazing gift— the gift of hope.

My heart breaks for the children that are suffering in my community, my state, and my nation. But, I am also filled with hope. In my role as Mrs. Texas International, my hope is to promote CASA throughout Texas and recruit a record number of advocates for children. In honor of this season of giving, why not share this hope with me? Why not consider lending your voice as a gift to an abused child? Why not share your blessings, your talents, and your time with one hurting child?

When you give a child a voice, you give them a gift that will measure far beyond this holiday season. You give them the gift of hope. It is a gift that has the power to change the course of a child’s life.

Visit www.becomeacasa.org to find out how to become a CASA.

Bonnie Hubert - Mrs. Texas International, 2009 (article courtesy of Texas CASA)