Organization serving Walker, Trinity and San Jacinto counties highlights growing need, year-end events
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — CASA staff say about 65 children in foster care across Walker, Trinity and San Jacinto counties are depending on trained volunteers to help them navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“We provide advocacy for children placed in foster care because of abuse or neglect,” said Development Director Laura Green. “It’s a tough road, but our volunteers provide healing and hope. They show these kids someone is in their corner.”
What CASA Does
CASA — Court Appointed Special Advocates — assigns trained community volunteers to follow a child’s case from removal to permanency.
“We see children from birth all the way through age 18,” Green said. “They shouldn’t have to worry about the things we see in court, but they do. That’s why our advocates matter so much.”
Program Director Rachel Drake said advocates work directly with children and caregivers, visit homes, attend court and coordinate with caseworkers, therapists and attorneys.
“One of our advocates drives nearly three hours each way to see her child three times a month,” Drake said. “She knows he needs someone who shows up consistently. That’s the heart of CASA volunteers — they go above and beyond every single month.”
Funding the Mission
Green said about half of CASA’s annual budget comes from grants, with the rest raised through fundraising and community support.
“You can volunteer, you can give financially, or you can help with events,” she said. “Even $25 a month makes a difference. It all goes directly to supporting these children.”
Green said seeing CASA’s work up close changed her understanding of the organization.
“I knew what CASA was, but I didn’t fully understand it until I started working here,” she said. “Seeing court firsthand opened my eyes. Children shouldn’t carry these burdens — and CASA is here to make sure they don’t carry them alone.”
Parade of Playhouses Returns
One of CASA’s largest annual fundraisers — the Parade of Playhouses — is now underway, featuring six custom-built, full-size children’s playhouses displayed across the region.
“These aren’t small plastic toys,” Green said. “These are full-size, beautifully built playhouses worth well over $4,000. Builders donate every bit of labor and material.”
The playhouses will be displayed at banks, businesses and partner locations in Huntsville, New Waverly and Trinity. All six will appear together in the Huntsville Lions Club Christmas Parade on Dec. 6.
Raffle tickets are $25 each or five for $100, and each ticket holder chooses which playhouse they want to win. Winners do not need to be present.
Tickets:
https://www.givecentral.org/Playhouses2025
Key Dates:
- Nov. 3 — Tickets available online and in person
- Dec. 5 — Last day to buy tickets in person (except CASA office)
- Dec. 8 — Last day to buy tickets online
- Dec. 9 — Tickets sold at CASA office until 5 p.m.; drawing at 5:30 p.m.
2025 Playhouses and Locations:
- “Fanta-Sea Villa” – Gulf Coast Trades Center – First Financial Bank, New Waverly
- “She Said She Shed” – In Pace Builders – First Financial Bank, Huntsville
- “Wacky Shack” – Trinity ISD Woodshop – 101 West Jefferson St., Trinity
- “Cottage at the Beach” – Seale Construction – McWilliams Heating Cooling & Plumbing, Huntsville
- “Christmas at Graceland” – Superior Homes Custom, Inc. – VeraBank, Huntsville
- “O Come All Ye Faithful” – Northside Baptist Church & Superior Homes Custom, Inc. – Prosperity Bank, Huntsville
“These houses are for everyone — not just kids,” Green said. “We’ve had adults turn them into offices, art studios, even mini man-caves or she-sheds.”
Holiday Toy Drive Begins
CASA’s annual toy drive has also launched.
“We serve newborns through age 18, and Christmas takes a lot of planning,” Drake said. “Because many of our kids are placed hours away, we start early to make sure advocates can get gifts to them on time.”
Advocates contact caregivers to learn what each child needs and wants during the holidays.
“Some caregivers take in sibling groups on short notice and Christmas becomes overwhelming,” Drake said. “We step in to help lift that burden. No child should worry about whether they’ll have gifts on Christmas morning.”
Toy collection boxes are located at participating businesses across all three counties through early December.
Photos With Santa Events
- Nov. 22, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.: Photos with Santa and treats from Red Bird Creamery at McWilliams Heating Cooling & Plumbing, 1233 11th Street, Huntsville
- Nov. 24, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.: Santa, cocoa and cookies at VeraBank, 1718 11th Street, Huntsville
How to Help
“You don’t have to be an advocate to make a difference,” Green said. “You can volunteer at events, donate, buy raffle tickets or support the toy drive. Every single effort helps create a safe, permanent, nurturing home for a child.”
CASA information:
casaofwalkercounty.org
(936) 291-2272
2515 Pine Shadows Drive, Huntsville
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