Friday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m, Friends of CASA is having a western barn party fundraising event at the McMurran Farm, 161 McMurran Farm Lane in Shepherdstown to benefit the important organization.

For more than two decades, the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of the Eastern Panhandle program has worked tirelessly as court advocates for the abused and neglected children in our communities.

CASA volunteers are trained and appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for the children to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes.

Often, the CASA volunteer is the one stable, dependable adult present in the life of an abused child, and that volunteer stays with the case until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home.

Vicki Barnard, Executive Director of CASA of the Panhandle said, “Friends of CASA is a group of wonderful, lovely supporters who have raised a substantial amount of money for us over the years. It’s been such a great help to us.”

CASA volunteers each handle only one or two cases at a time so that they can devote the proper care and attention to each child. Despite the numbers of cases doubling, sometimes tripling from 2010 to present, in part due to the explosion of substance abuse in our area, Barnard’s goal is to be able to service every case in the panhandle by the year 2020.

“The way our office is growing we’ll be able to provide services for every abused and neglected child in the system by 2020,” said Barnard. “That’s our commitment to the community.”

There is no admission charge to attend the barn party where there will be music, light fare and an open bar, but generous donations will be collected. Western attire is encouraged.