Local woman using art to assist abused, neglected kids

Amateur artist Ann Knutson had to dust off her paint brushes and try a new canvas -- suitcases -- after learning about abused and neglected children toting their possessions in garbage bags.

"I thought that was so humiliating and sad for them," she said.

The retired real estate agent, who had studied art in college but hadn't painted in 40 years, discovered the situation through a Florida newspaper article that explained how a group of people were decorating donated suitcases to provide a little comfort for the children being hastily removed from their homes.

"I thought it would be an easy thing to do … to make someone's life a little nicer … and it would be fun," Knutson said.

She teamed up with the DuPage County Court Appointed Special Advocates, who represent the children's best interests in court proceedings, through friend Lyn Shean. Shean had told her friends about the similar sad situation here that she learned about as she went through the CASA training last fall at the Carol Stream Police Department.

They pitched the idea to Kay Hedeen, executive director of CASA in DuPage, who then went to the supervisor at the area DCFS office in Glen Ellyn.

"We proposed it to DCFS and they loved the idea," Hedeen said.

Knutson and company started collecting suitcases in the spring. A few have already been delivered to Hedeen, who will then take them to DCFS so social workers can bring them along when they pick up children.

A suitcase collection is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday outside the Target on Diehl Road in Warrenville's Cantera development.

Meanwhile, parent volunteer Maribeth Spittler was looking for a community project for students at St. Michael Catholic School in Wheaton. She figured enlisting the students to collect personal items such as crayons, coloring books, pajamas and toothbrushes to go inside the CASA suitcases was ideal.

"Giving items, giving something to someone is a whole lot different than giving a gift card or cash. Giving them something … forces the kids to think about the whole process: This child has to leave the house immediately because it's an unsafe situation … How would you feel in that situation?

"It's a way to get them to think about others. Hopefully, they'll be more compassionate."

Some other area artists have heard about the project and the children's plight and have offered to paint suitcases. Another area church is collecting suitcases, Hedeen said. Some others are donating duffel bags.

"It's kind of mushrooming," Hedeen said. "I've got support from churches and business owners to schools -- as well as my own advocates. It's a great feel-good story, that we can do something good for these kids who are being hurt."

The CASA DuPage organization began in 1993 with just 15 volunteers who helped 33 children that first year, Hedeen said. It is one of 948 state and local programs across the country that was initiated in 1977 by a Seattle judge.

Since then, the numbers of volunteers and children have only increased. This year, 114 sworn advocates, hailing from Addison to Bartlett and Naperville to Roselle, are serving 200 kids with active court cases. Twenty-two cases have been closed since July 1, she said.

"We are at an all-time high this year," Hedeen said. "Some advocates are serving more than one child and even more than one family."

Since not all are in the court at the same time and go through less active periods, more seasoned advocates can handle more than one family unit at a time, she said.

If you want to get involved, call Hedeen at (630) 221-0889, Ext. 305.

Or you can donate a suitcase or learn how to decorate one by contacting Knutson at (630) 455-5529.

"It's really something anyone can do. I traced the outline and then filled it in like a coloring book," Knutson said. "I think God wants us to use our talents to help others. The art is a gift of mine."

How to help

Suitcase collection

• Where: Target, 28201 Diehl Road, Warrenville

• When: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday

To decorate or donate

• Call Ann Knutson to donate a suitcase or learn how to decorate one: (630) 455-5529

For more information

• Call Kay Hedeen, executive director of CASA in DuPage, for more ways to get involved: (630) 221-0889, ext. 305

Other ways to help

• Donate personal items to go inside suitcases including toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair brushes, combs, crayons, coloring books, pajamas for varying ages.

• Volunteer to be a court-appointed special advocate, who represents the best interests of abused and neglected children in court proceedings. About 30 to 40 hours of training is required followed by an 18-month commitment to the program. A training session begins in January. Men, especially African-Americans and Spanish-speakers, are needed. For more details, see www.dupagecasa.org.

• Become a Friend of CASA, a volunteer group that helps with fundraising and special projects. For more, see the DuPage CASA Web site.