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‘Tis the season to be generous to those who need it most. CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) of Lexington is hosting its angel tree kickoff event on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m.

The Angel Tree kickoff will be held at Morgan Murray’s Edward Jones Office at 100 John Sutherland Drive. The kickoff will feature free refreshments and attendees are welcome to wear festive holiday clothes!

“The Jessamine County CASA Angel Tree event lets you make a difference in the life of a child in the Jessamine County family court system, who might otherwise receive few or no gifts this December,” said Melynda Jamison, the executive director of the Jessamine County CASA program.

Attendees at the kickoff will have a chance to select the names and wish lists of local children from the CASA Angel Tree.

Children on the Jessamine County CASA Angel Tree have open family court cases because they have suffered abuse or neglect. They each also have a (CASA) volunteer who visits them monthly and advocates for their needs.

Participants will receive a child’s first name, age and gender, as well as a list of their most desired and needed items. They will shop for items from the list, then return the gifts to the CASA of Lexington office, located at 3245 Loch Ness Dr., across Nicholasville Road from Lexington Green.

By early December, Jessamine County CASA volunteers will deliver the gifts to the children’s caregivers, just in time for holiday celebrations.

According to the most recent Child Maltreatment report published this spring, Kentucky ranks #6 in the county for worst child abuse ratings (rate of child abuse/neglect is 14.7 victims per 1,000 children).

CASA states there are likely close to 500 children in Jessamine County right now with open abuse or neglect cases. The Jessamine County CASA program served 36 children last year and is growing that number in 2023.

“The children we serve are the most at-risk, but once they receive a CASA volunteer, they are more likely to do well in school, have hope for the future and return to a stable, loving, permanent home,” Jamison said. “The Jessamine County CASA Angel Tree program enables everyone and anyone to help give these children happier childhoods.”

For more information about the Jessamine County CASA Angel Tree kickoff, visit www.casaoflexington.org/angeltree.