A Lasting Impact

‘Tis the season! For me, this time of year holds special significance as it’s both my birthday season and Christmas season. I was born in the early hours of December 23rd, and my parents brought me home on Christmas Day. I joined my brother, who was just about to turn six, and I like to think I was the best gift under the tree that day. As you can imagine, there was much to celebrate on that warm winter day. Family and friends traveled from near and far to Orlando, Florida, to get their first glimpse of me. While they didn’t bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they did bring all the supplies my parents and I needed for the immediate future. Most importantly, they brought an abundance of love.

Growing up in a lower-middle-class family, my parents did everything to ensure my brother and I were well cared for and secure. As I look through old photo albums from the ’70s, despite the questionable fashion and hairstyles, the smiles in those photos shine brightly. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized we were “lower middle class.” Isn’t that what we all deserve? A childhood filled with love and security, free from constant worry about what tomorrow will bring?

I will forever be grateful for the hard work and relentless dedication my family put in for each other. Even in our toughest times, our struggles were minimal compared to what many other children and families face.

As I embark on my second year as a board member for Georgia CASA, the holidays have taken on a new meaning. Currently, there are 11,000 children in foster care in Georgia who are not as fortunate as I was. Many of these children do not experience the holidays as a cheerful time. We have 2,600 CASA volunteers advocating for 8,100 children, but we still need volunteers to fully care for our foster children in Georgia. Our goal is to increase our volunteer base by 1,000 additional volunteers by 2026. This will help bring best-interest advocacy for another 3,000 children in care. What better holiday gift to a foster child than having someone advocate for them through times many of us cannot even fathom.

During this holiday season, let’s focus on presence, not presents. That’s the gift that leaves a lasting impact and can forever change someone’s life.

As an organization dedicated to supporting children and families in crisis, we recognize that holidays can be a delicate and nuanced time for many. In this series, Purposeful Perspectives, we asked our staff and board members to select a season, month, or day that is meaningful to them to share with our CASA community. Thank you for joining us as we take a deeper look behind the celebrations that fill our lives.