web1_TTL013119BrownForMayor_1-1-.jpg

Brown will run again for Wilkes-Barre mayor

web1_TTL010518WBGeneral.jpg

Wilkes-Barre General Hospital nurses ratify contract and avert strike

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; A local nonprofit focused on helping abused and neglected youth in Luzerne County hosted a thank-you dinner for program volunteers on Wednesday night.</p><p>CASA of Luzerne County (Court Appointed Special Advocates) hosted its Advocate Appreciation Night at Canteen Park on Market Street, recognizing each advocate&#8217;s work.</p><p>&#8220;The volunteers are the heart and soul of the program,&#8221; said John Aciukewicz, executive director of CASA. &#8220;It&#8217;s important to thank them for all the work they do.&#8221;</p><p>CASA currently serves 61 children in Luzerne County with 42 advocates to serve as mentors, friends and guides.</p><p>&#8220;There are 440 kids in foster care in the county because of abuse and neglect,&#8221; Aciukewicz noted. &#8220;We would love to accommodate every child. That&#8217;s why we are always looking for new volunteers.&#8221;</p><p>CASA&#8217;s goal is to link children in foster care with a volunteer advocate who helps them navigate the legal system while also finding them a permanent home as quickly as possible.</p><p>Christina Taylor, president of CASA&#8217;s board of directors, echoed Aciukewicz&#8217;s remarks.</p><p>&#8220;We have a long way to go,&#8221; said Taylor. &#8220;It truly takes a commitment to serve a child in the community.&#8221;</p><p>Taylor expressed her excitement for the program&#8217;s growth and how CASA&#8217;s advocates are able to connect on a personal and intimate level.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve seen tremendous growth,&#8221; she added. &#8220;This event extends to cultivate and grow great members of the community to help make these children&#8217;s lives better and give them a fighting chance.&#8221;</p><p>Since 2013, 139 children in the county have been matched with a CASA volunteer. Sandy Serafin has been involved from the start.</p><p>&#8220;This is very important to me,&#8221; said Serafin, a five-year CASA advocate. &#8220;I&#8217;ve had five kids during my tenure.</p><p>&#8220;It feels good to know there&#8217;s a kid in your life willing to call and reach out to you,&#8221; she added. &#8220;They need you, but sometimes you need them.&#8221;</p><p>Serafin thanked the organization&#8217;s board of directors for all the support and guidance.</p><p>&#8220;We wouldn&#8217;t be in the position to help these wonderful kids if it weren&#8217;t for them,&#8221; she said.</p><p>For more information, go to www.luzernecasa.org or Facebook at CASA of Luzerne County.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_ttl013119casa-2-1-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">CASA of Luzerne County (Court Appointed Special Advocates) hosted an Advocate Appreciation Night at Canteen Park on Market Street in Kingston on Wednesday. Advocates mentor foster children and help them find a permanent home. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_ttl013119casa-2-1-1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>CASA of Luzerne County (Court Appointed Special Advocates) hosted an Advocate Appreciation Night at Canteen Park on Market Street in Kingston on Wednesday. Advocates mentor foster children and help them find a permanent home. </caption0><photoCredit0>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL013119casa-1-1-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Christina Taylor, president of CASA&#8217;s board of directors, raises a glass Wednesday to thank the group&#8217;s advocate volunteers, staff and board of directors for their combined efforts to help the county&#8217;s foster children during an appreciation dinner in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL013119casa-1-1-1-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Christina Taylor, president of CASA&#8217;s board of directors, raises a glass Wednesday to thank the group&#8217;s advocate volunteers, staff and board of directors for their combined efforts to help the county&#8217;s foster children during an appreciation dinner in Kingston. </caption1><photoCredit1>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>CASA of Luzerne County hosts appreciation dinner for volunteers</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dan Stokes</p><p>dstokes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dan Stokes at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @ByDanStokes</p></shirttailMeta></div>

CASA hosts appreciation dinner for volunteers helping foster kids