CASA raises awareness, funds at event

It might be a time to gobble up homemade chili, cornbread and pies, but the ultimate goal isn't to fill bellies, but to help children removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.

The Seventh Annual CASA Chili Feed at St. James Catholic Church in Plains Thursday evening raised nearly $1,600 from the 50-plus people in attendance at the group's first fundraiser of the year. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a nonprofit organization with volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children that are involved in neglect or abuse cases in court. CASA in Sanders County began six years ago by Plains resident Betty Boehler and former Plains resident Polly Cavill. It is partnered with CASA in Lake County, which launched in 2005 and is run by Ann Marie McNeil, the executive director. 

The chili feed is one of two fundraisers that Sanders County CASA holds each year; the other is an ice cream social in the beginning of August at Sanders County Fairgrounds. The money raised goes to pay for mandatory training for the advocates and to help pay for their travel expenses. They also periodically attend subsequent training to help them with their mission. Last year, advocates received instruction on how to diffuse a volatile situation. There are four advocates in Sanders County: Marissa Ilac of Hot Springs, Jackie Lowry of Thompson Falls, Becky Azure of Trout Creek, and Linda Wilson of Plains, the only advocate at last week's fundraiser. Wilson said there are three additional advocates in training.

"I think this was a huge success. That's a lot of money to make at an event like this in Plains," said Colleen McCarthy, one of four board members of Sanders County CASA. Steve Seilhymer, who made his homemade cornbread for the event, is the board president. Also on the board are Cavill and Kathy Gregg.

The mission of CASA is representation of children in court. The advocates are often the children's only voice, said McCarthy, who's been with the program for two years. The cost of the chili dinner, which ran from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., was a donation. The average donation ranged from $5 to $20. People also had the opportunity to buy 50/50 tickets 10 for $5, but often donated more to the cause. One community member made a donation of $400, said Lyla Sears, the volunteer cashier for the evening.

"People in the community have been really generous," said McCarthy, who added that Randy Garrison, owner of The Printery, donated the event posters around the community, and the First Lutheran Church in Plains paid for all the food ingredients and advertising. Leonard Larson cooked homemade chili, as he has done every year, and Seilhymer has made the cornbread for the last four years. All nine of the homemade pies were donated by local residents. McCarthy doesn't yet know the amount, but St. James Catholic Church has pledged a donation and a Plains resident has pledged $100.

The event included three door prizes. Laurie Rehbein won a gift certificate for the Dog Hill Bistro. Shelly Rummel won a gift certificate for the Montana High Espresso, and Carol Pilgeram won a Valentine's Day gift package of flowers, wine and chocolates.

McCarthy said the purpose of the event was also to educate people about the role of CASA and what the volunteer advocates do. She said the CASA advocates in both counties last year worked on the cases for 101 children, including 14 in Sanders County. Wilson presently has four cases with 11 children ranging from 4 months old to 16 years old. Many of her cases involve parents with drug problems.

"We are investigating on behalf of the child. We look at school records, records from police, medical records, and even records from therapists," said Wilson, who has been with the program for five years. She said the advocates attend all foster care meetings, family engagement meetings and court appearances. She said that all their research and findings go to the judge, who makes the final decision.

"It's very hard sometimes, but I feel really privileged to get to know these children," said Wilson. "Without these advocates, no one would be looking into the best interest of the child," she added. "It's a pretty dramatic experience for children to be removed from their home and put into foster care, and they're usually strangers," said McCarthy. She also noted that kids in this type of situation who have the benefit of the advocates do better in school and are half as likely to re-enter the foster care system.

McCarthy said that CASA gets all its money from charitable contributions and government grants.

Two or three grants are pending. One third of its funds come from the Montana Supreme Court. However, they rely heavily on their two annual fundraisers.