Gifts for CASA children on the stage at FLETC Auditorium, Bldg 912 (courtesy photo) (courtesy photo)
GLYNCO, GEORGIA – The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) held its 21st annual Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Presentation December 7, 2017, to provide local displaced children a brighter Christmas.
More than 100 FLETC and partner organization staff members, CASA employees and volunteers attended the event hosted by FLETC Director Thomas Walters. The program included remarks by CASA Glynn Executive Director Carey Greenfield and two foster parents enrolled in the CASA program.
According to Greenfield, “Without the help from FLETC and the partner organizations we just couldn’t have met the children’s needs during the holiday season.” She commented on her amazement seeing the stage filled with the hundreds of wrapped gifts for the 105 children enrolled in this year’s program.
Employees sign up to sponsor a child in need, and purchase items based on the child’s wish list. This year’s gifts included more than 16 bicycles, toys, clothing and books. The CASA volunteers deliver them to the homes of the sponsored children.
Foster parents Matthew and Mattie Pettus described how excited their six foster children were to receive gifts last year. “There were six bikes next to the Christmas tree that morning,” said Matthew Pettus, “it was incredible to watch these children, who have never owned a bike, riding up and down the street that morning.”
Since 1999, the FLETC and its partner organizations have helped provide a Christmas for more than 2,600 area children as part of the CASA program.
“Although we at FLETC come from many different faiths and backgrounds, we come together this time of year in various ways to help our community,” said Director Walters.
CASA is a non-profit organization of volunteers, who are assigned by the court as a child’s advocate in cases of abuse or neglect.
To learn more about FLETC, please visit www.fletc.gov, @FLETC1 on Twitter, and FLETC Headquarters on Facebook.
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December 12, 2017
Contact: Alicia Gregory
267-2447 or 267-2908
#FLETC-PCO@fletc.dhs.gov