Want to help a foster child in your community?
Would you like to teach your children about volunteerism?
Support the 3rd Annual Backpack Project:
- Donate school supplies to fill the Backpacks for foster children in our community.
- Support the CASA mission with a cash donation to CASA of SoLA; casaofsola.org (For the purchase of the backpacks and other items for foster children.)
- Volunteer with your family on July 20th to decorate, write notes of encouragement and fill 300 backpacks.
Date: July 20th Time: 10:00am-4:30pm
*Please note: we will pack backpacks in the am and the foster families will come for the afternoon. Please join us for the day!
Place: Grace Presbyterian Church- 518 Roselawn Blvd, Lafayette
Goal: 100 Volunteers = 300 backpacks for 300 Foster children
For more info contact: Stephanie LeBlanc at 504-909-8866 or SJL253@hotmail.com
CASA of SoLA covers the 15th Judicial court including Lafayette, Acadia and Vermillion parishes. On average, CASA of SoLA represents approximately 150-200 children per year.
When a child is removed from their home, they are placed in a foster home within 2-4hrs. As mandated by DCFS, Dept of Child and Family Services, the child must return to school within 3 days of removal. Usually this is a different school based on the location of the foster family. When a child enters care they may only have the clothes on their backs. The foster family is responsible for purchasing everything they will need for school. Many of these children are removed in the middle of the school year and need to purchase all new school supplies to attend the new school.
Last year was such a huge success with over $6000 total donations (monetary & supplies), 300 backpacks filled and over 100 volunteers. This year our goals are the same with $5000, 300 backpacks and over 100 volunteers. In addition to packing the backpacks, we have partnered with School Time to give out gently used uniforms to those foster children in need. We will have this set up after we pack the backpacks, so that families can get everything they need on the day of the event.
We are requesting monetary donations for the purchase of the backpacks, then we will fill the backpacks with community donated supplies. (All monetary donations are tax deductible.) You can donate online at www.casaofsola.org. We will host a one-day volunteer event for families to assemble the backpacks. We will have craft stations set up for children of all ages to make notes with words of encouragement to aid in the transition. We are encouraging families to attend to teach their children about volunteerism, CASA and foster children.
As the school year will be quickly approaching, we will be having the event on Friday, July 20th. We are so excited that Grace Presbyterian Church has graciously agreed to host the event again. I have attached the 3rd Annual Backpack Project flyer as well as the school supply list for donations. You are welcome to drop off the school supplies at the CASA of SoLA office, UBS Financial Services or you may contact me for other arrangements.
