Children’s Advocacy Network hosts gumbo open house

Toys were delivered to foster care children here in Cenla on Wednesday,

The Children’s Advocacy Network (CASA) hosted its annual gumbo open house.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, CASA, and other community leaders gathered to enjoy gumbo and pick out gifts for the children they help in the community.

All of the presents were collected in the last few weeks.

Frank Elliot, a former teacher, says being able to volunteer with CASA gives him another opportunity to make a difference in a child's life.

“Sometimes, I’m the only person that follows them,” he said. “I had one case I followed for ten years. I was the only person that boy knew during the ten years. Everybody else changed along the way.”

“We want to make sure that not only the foster families have gifts for them, but that the children throughout our area know that they are loved, not only by their parents and foster parents but by the community at large,” said Wade Bond, the Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Network.

This year, CASA served more than 1,000 children and opened offices in LaSalle, Catahoula and Concordia Parishes.

Bond also says they received a record number of gifts.