Jewish Family Services and The Giving Brick will be among the organizations participating in CARnival for CASA, a drive-through event that includes more than 20 activity booths, sweet treats and lunch for everyone in the car, a raffle, an optional nature walk or scavenger hunt, yard games, and lots of goodies to take home, including LEGO sets.
Attended by both the public and the kids served by Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), this benefit will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 12 at Unity Village, 1901 NW Blue Parkway in Lee’s Summit. Everything is included for $60 per carload.
CARnival goers will be able to take part in traditional carnival activities before having the option of hopping out of the car to take part in a scavenger hunt, walk a nature trail, play yard games including corn hole, Jenga, hula hoops and bucket pong, and enjoy lunch on the grounds.
Some of the drive-through activities include a dunk tank, pie in the face, exotic birds, hula hoopers, jugglers, music, car bingo, Disney princesses, stilt walker, bubble machine, mascots, ring toss, car decorating station where volunteers decorate the car, photo booth, temporary tattoos, balloon twister and more.
Kids will get to take home lots of goodies including sets of LEGO from The Giving Brick, a nonprofit that sanitizes and compiles used LEGO pieces into complete sets. JFS will distribute t-shirts and other items from its teen anti-suicide program, You Be You.
There will be popcorn, cotton candy, f’Real ice cream shakes, and boxed lunches from Cosentino’s Price Chopper for everyone in the car. A raffle offers an opportunity to win gift cards to area groceries, restaurants and the Kansas City Zoo.
This year, Jackson County CASA volunteers will advocate for the best interests of 1,250 children who have been removed from their homes for their safety because of abuse and neglect. The public is invited to sponsor CASA kids to attend CARnival for CASA as well as to take part in all the excitement of attending CARnival for CASA themselves.
Many CASA kids have never attended a carnival and say that this day — when they get to just be a kid and forget their trauma for a time — is the best day of their lives.
CARnival for CASA will raise funds to help recruit, train and provide ongoing support to Jackson County CASA volunteers.
With support from professional staff, CASA volunteers work to provide critical information to judges, helping them make the best possible decisions regarding where the children should live and what medical, therapeutic, and educational services they need. Often, CASA volunteers are the single constant in these children’s lives as they navigate the court and foster care system.
Kids who have a CASA volunteer are far less likely to be re-abused and far more likely to find a safe permanent home. They typically are also in the foster-care system for a shorter time and do better in school.
More volunteers are desperately needed. There is no need for any special skills or education to be a CASA volunteer – just a heart for helping children, a background check, and training. The hours are highly flexible. While each case is different, a CASA volunteer usually spends about 10 hours a month meeting with the child, speaking with others involved, and attending meetings or court hearings.
For information about volunteering as a CASA, for tickets to attend CARnival for CASA, or to sponsor a CASA kid to attend CARnival for CASA, please visit www.jacksoncountycasa-mo.org or call Jackson County CASA at 816-984-8200.
