Vigo County CASA needs volunteers as they bounce back from the pandemic

Vigo County CASA needs volunteers as they bounce back from the pandemic

Children in our community need your help.

At 5, we told you how casa here in vigo county has been affected by the covid-19 pandemic.

"casa" stands for court-appointed special advocate.

News 10's dominic miranda spoke with the organization's director.

He explains the need... and how you can help.

Vigo county casa director glenna cheesman told me the number of children in their program is climbing.

There are 178 children on their waitlist and that number continues to grow.

I spoke to cheesman about their need for more volunteers... and how they're attempting to gain interest while bouncing back from the covid-19 pandemic.

Cheesman told me in march...the waitlist numbers exploded.

For reference...in 2019..she says vigo county casa had 1200 children.

To date...they have 912... with 6 months left to go in 2020.... and only 37 volunteers.

Cheesman says they are maxed out..... but she says they have really embraced using technology to recruit more volunteers during this pandemic.

She says they are launching new initiatives even this week through social media.

Cheesman tells me many people are hesitant to volunteer because of health concerns.

But she says..

There are adjustments being made.

This was actually supposed to be the topic of a town-hall video conference that was cancelled.

"outside the children that we serve, our volunteers are our priority as well and making sure that they're safe.

This town hall was an opportunity to help alleviate some of those fears so people can know what we've adapted to so that they can still advocate because regardless, these children need us and they cant wait."

Cheesman told me there have been discussions at a state level that once daycares...schools..and other programs open up... they expect the number of reported cases to go up as well.

That's why they need your help now more than ever.

For more information on how to get involved and contact casa.

You can visit our website... w-t-h-i-t-v dot com.

In terre haute.

I'm dominic miranda.

News 10 vigo county vigo