By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post
Listen to the full interview with Janet Vath on our Kubota Podcast
Lincoln County CASA is launching its first-ever Angel Tree program, offering community members an opportunity to brighten the holidays for local children in the foster care system.
“This is a new concept for Lincoln County CASA this year,” said Executive Director Janet Vath, who joined me to discuss the initiative. “We have two locations. One at the First National Bank of Omaha, 201 North Dewey. Then we have one that is sponsored by the leadership of Nebraska Bank, downtown location, 121 North Dewey.”
Janet explained that participating is simple: “All you have to do is stop by the bank, grab an ornament off the tree. Each ornament includes a gift idea for a child in foster care, purchase a new gift, unopened. You may either return it wrapped or unwrapped, whichever you prefer.”
She added an important reminder: “Make sure that when you return that gift that you put the tag back on that present so we know which child it goes to. We have them all numbered and we know.”
Many ornaments remain available. “There’s still a lot of tags on both of the trees. Please come on down and take a tag and help support a child that may not get much for Christmas otherwise,” she said.
The tags represent a wide age range of children. “Anywhere from newborns to 18 years old.”
Janet also addressed concerns some donors have about not being able to buy every item listed on a tag. “The gift ideas on the tags are just ideas. Even if it’s one, one present off of that will make a child’s Christmas happy. They will at least have a present under the tree.”
CASA is asking donors to return gifts by December 15, though Janet noted, “The latest that we can accept them would be December 18th, so we can get them to the right places.”
Programs like the Angel Tree matter deeply, especially for children without advocates. “Some of these kids won’t have much of a Christmas if we don’t help out,” Janet said. She also explained that while Rotary helps cover CASA children already assigned advocates, the Angel Tree aims to assist those who don’t yet have one. “These are kids that do not have advocates that are in the court system that also need Christmas. And we try to look out for them, too.”
Beyond holiday giving, CASA is preparing for its next volunteer training session. “We are court-appointed special advocates for children in the court system. Advocates, we train 30 hours of training, which I do. Actually, we’re having a class starting in January,” Janet explained. “I’m hoping it’s going to be about eight, at least eight people so far have signed up. So I’m hoping it to be a very big class. But hey, we welcome anybody.”
Right now, the need is significant. “We have 42 children in the court system right now that need advocates. We try to do as many as we can. But without an advocate, we can’t give a child an advocate.”
Anyone interested in becoming a CASA volunteer or learning more about the Angel Tree program can reach Janet directly. “You can call our office or call me 308-386-8393. I’m the executive director, so I can get you…on your way to becoming that.”
Angel Tree ornaments are available now at FNBO and Nebraskaland Bank on Dewey Street. Gifts are due December 15.
“Please come on down and take a tag,” Janet said. “Help support a child that may not get much for Christmas otherwise.”