CASA of Union County salutes its volunteer child advocates at BBQ

Posted on September 13, 2021 by

Dan DiBella Posted in Cranford Monthly, Our Publications

(above) Among the CASA volunteers attending were, from left, James Walker Jr. of Elizabeth, Isabella Blumberg of Springfield, Barbara Bagger of Westfield, Arlene Sumner of Linden, Carmen Iyala of Scotch Plains, Quetzali Sevillano of Rahway, Lara Gibbemeyer and Robert Bridgeman of Westfield, Flor Maria Mendez of Elizabeth, Mollie Yang of Mountainside, Fernando Porras of Clark, Katherine Romano of New Providence, Shelley Grobe of Cranford, Kristen Kim of Westfield, Rebecca Muston of Summit, Teresa Lastella of Clark, Kevin JeanCharles of Roselle, Donna Isidron of Clark, Karime Herrera of Elizabeth, Komal Nankani of Summit, Lisa Kalichman of South Orange, Sean O’Leary of South Plainfield, Carolyn Colonna of Fanwood, Cynthia Evans of Scotch Plains, and Lydia Pernia of Linden.

CASA of Union County BBQ

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Union County, the only local nonprofit advocating for youth from birth to age 21 involved in the child welfare system due to abuse, neglect and abandonment, took time-out on a recent sunny Sunday afternoon to fete its community members who are trained as child advocates and continuously give of their time to ensure the best interests of Union County’s most vulnerable youth are protected and their needs are met.

Seeley’s Picnic Grounds in Watchung Reservation was host to a guest list that included each of the organization’s nearly 170 current volunteer advocates and their families and dogs, its funders, and court personnel with whom the organization regularly works as cases are heard by Union County Superior Court. CASA staff and several members of the Board of Trustees served guests such grilled fare as ribs, pulled pork, hotdogs, burgers, and sides and dessert galore. Executive Director Mariel S. Hufnagel’s husband Anthony was grill master.

Amid the frivolity of lunching, chatting and even competition at the cornhole and KanJam playing fields, CASA volunteers and staff still managed to make time for advocacy work, too. Each year as the summer draws to a close, the organization runs a school supply drive to ensure every foster youth served has a new backpack chock-full of needed supplies so their first day feels full of promise. The park’s pavilion became backpack depot where advocates checked in to secure their foster youth’s backpack, lunchboxes, and supplies.

Anne Collart, President of the Board of Trustees, was among those welcoming advocates. “It was a gorgeous day, and the perfect setting for CASA of Union County to give its time for all those who gift their time for local foster youth, and keep the organization moving forward in its mission. Today, we wanted to be in their corner, and encourage each advocate to relax, connect and enjoy our gratitude for all they do.”

Since 2005, the nonprofit has recruited, trained, supported and supervised nearly 600 volunteers to advocate for more than 900 youth, protecting best interests in the courtroom, classroom and community, and helping ensure already experienced trauma is not exacerbated as youth await permanency in a safe and loving home.For details on the advocate experience and joining upcoming information and training sessions, email Lucia at info@casaofunioncounty.org.