When he approached Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Union County — a nonprofit that recruits, trains, supervises and supports community volunteers to advocate for abused, neglected or abandoned local children in foster care — Gabe Givelber of Boy Scout Troop 77 in Westfield didn’t know just how his Eagle Scout service project would ultimately take shape, but he knew he wanted to impact kids less fortunate than him.
“I’m a lucky kid. I live in a nice house with my parents, brothers, cat and dog. There’s always plenty to eat and I have a nice place to sleep each night. My parents have good jobs and I’m able to participate in most activities I’m interested in.” Noting this isn’t the case for the 600 Union County children in foster care, Gabe added, “Many of these kids have been removed from home because their parents can no longer take care of them. Many of the parents suffer from mental illness or substance abuse. These kids are neglected, or physically or mentally abused.”
Gabe met with staff and quickly found a pressing need: organization of a conference room that had become makeshift storage, as toys, books, school supplies, pajamas and CASA marketing materials were stashed in every nook and cranny. After hearing about time spent searching for items and the difficulty in assessing what’s on hand and what’s not, Gabe hatched a plan: inventory the room, build and install shelves, sort and organize items into bins, create an inventory spreadsheet by shelf location, and provide a tablet on which staff could manage inventory electronically.
To make it happen, Gabe raised $2,150 from family, friends and troop members; mapped the space; ordered supplies; devised a two-day work schedule; and recruited help from several Troop 77 members, his mom and brother. Today, that chaotic space is now an orderly oasis, and CASA staff can easily access items and identify needs.
Gabe, who spent $1,450 and is donating the remaining $700 to the organization, noted, “My experience was really great. CASA was a great partner and really allowed me to be creative with my project. I was a little overwhelmed just before we started to fix the storage room. There was a lot more stuff than I thought there would be! I wasn’t sure we’d be able to complete the project in the time I’d proposed. Luckily, my volunteers worked really hard and the system I came up with worked really well. I’m very proud of the way the room looks and how happy CASA is!”
CASA Executive Director Marla Higginbotham said she and staff are thrilled. “Staff spends their time working with our volunteers, attending court, training advocates and managing cases. The storage space had gotten out of hand but we just hadn’t been able to dig in and devote time or resources. Gabe’s planning, fundraising and commitment brought about a result well beyond our expectations. He’s made our job easier, which means he’s absolutely helping us more easily impact the lives of abused and neglected children from his own county. We thank him, and our kids thank him.”
There are many ranks within Boy Scouts, and Eagle is the highest. Currently a Life Scout, Gabe had three years to earn 21 merit badges and lead and complete a service project before turning 18. He predicts his Eagle Scout ceremony will be this Winter or early Spring; given his efficiency and determination, CASA staff is betting he’ll be right on schedule.
(above) Shown in the completed room are, from left, Mary Claire Givelber, Matt DeBenedetto, Sean Melone, Jonny Givelber and Gabe Givelber; seated, John Sanders.
(above) Flanking Gabe are CASA staff in their new organized digs. From left, Natalie Deo, Marla Higginbotham, Lisa Poris, Kim Stocco and Gretchen Boger-O’Bryan.
