Hosanna! members collect suitcases for CASA Kane County
On the weekend of April 27-28, Hosanna! Lutheran Church members participated in a weekend of service.
Individuals performed more than 500 activities to serve individuals in need from the community.
The church members brought in new suitcases, toiletries and gift cards for the children that CASA Kane County serves.
The donation of these items was made as part of CASA’s suitcase initiative, an ongoing drive to meet the needs of up to 250 youth entering each year into the juvenile court system, with more than 550-plus children served each year.
The youth coming into the system have very few personal belonging when being put into foster care, and although CASA works in partnership with the courts for a return home goal to their biological parents, the truth is that only 30 percent actually return.
Most of these young children and teens are moved from one temporary housing unit to another and are sometimes forced to carry their precious belongings in a trash bag.
The suitcase initiative strives to give each child that comes into the court system a new suitcase to call their own so that they can carry their personal belongings with dignity and self-confidence.
“We are so thrilled to work with groups in the community, and we really appreciate their help with our suitcase initiative,” said Lori Hewitt, director of development for CASA.
This event was the first for Hosanna! but after such a tremendous outpouring of service, the St. Charles church has decided to make this an annual event.
The ultimate purpose of this weekend was to expand the scope of the church’s service, introduce members to new opportunities for service, and further strengthen its culture of service.
CASA Kane County is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the Juvenile Court system. Last year, 264 CASA volunteers represented 556 children throughout the Kane County area.
For information about the CASA program and the suitcase initiative, visit www.casakanecounty.org or call Lori Hewitt at (630) 444-3107.
To report suspected abuse or neglect, call (800) 252-2873.