Community volunteers pick up toys for foster kids throughout Cenla

Gumbo is good, but giving is even better.

The Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, joined with the Department of Children and Family Services to enjoy both on Wednesday afternoon.

For the last three weeks leading into Christmas, more than 100 businesses throughout Central Louisiana held toy drives in support of foster children.

There are about 400 children that will be able to open presents this Christmas thanks to everyone who donated to the toy drives.

While enjoying a great meal, the two organizations picked up the toys to deliver to the foster children.

CASA serves almost one thousand children annually.

“We've had great community support over the last several years and we want to give thanks to the people throughout the community who champion the needs of children,” Wade Bond, the Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy said. “It's also an opportunity for us to provide gifts to children who are in foster care and remind them that they are loved, not only by their family but by their community and we're here to support everybody to bring them back together and reunify the families.

For more information on how you can give join visit, Www.childrensadvocacy.net/casa-story.