The family of Mr. Raymond Alford recently made a generous donation of $30,000.00 from the Raymond Alford Testamentary Trust to the newly organized CASA of Freestone & Limestone Counties, an organization which provides children in foster care with a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer to advocate for their best interests.
Raymond Alford was a lifelong resident of Teague, Texas. He was the son of sharecroppers, James, and Gertrude Alford. Raymond spent his career working for the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway and running a family farm with a few head of cattle. The Raymond Alford Trust was established at Mr. Alford’s death with the intention of fulfilling Mr. Alford’s dream to help children in need in Freestone and Limestone counties; as the citizens of these counties helped support his own disabled son, Ronnie Alford, when living in Teague, Texas.
Spring Johnson, a founding Board member of the Bi-Stone CASA program, said she remembers Ronnie fondly. “My sister, Sue Gregory, was a Freestone County Sheriff’s deputy and they hired Ronnie to work as a dispatcher. Ronnie was such a kind, genuine, and giving person and he loved working with the department, answering the phones, and helping people,” she related. “It is so generous of the Alford family to leave this legacy that will continue helping the children of Freestone & Limestone Counties.”
“These funds will have a tremendous impact on our ability to serve more vulnerable children in conservatorship as we work with the Texas courts to aid both the children and families going through the foster care system,” said Ashley Gomez, Executive Director of CASA of Freestone & Limestone Counties.
CASA volunteers are members of the community who are specially trained and appointed by a judge to advocate for a child or sibling group while they are in the foster care system. They advocate for the child in court, school, and other settings; and they get to know everyone involved in the child’s life, including their parents, foster parents, teachers, doctors, family members and others.
CASA volunteers advocate first and foremost for children to be reunified with their parents whenever safe and possible. When reunification is not an option, they may advocate for the child to live with another relative or family friend. They can also advocate for the child to be placed in an adoptive home. In all cases, CASA volunteers are steadfast, consistent presences for the children they serve, making sure the children are safe and have the resources and connections they need to grow and thrive.
“We are always in need of donations to support our work, as well as more CASA volunteers to serve children and families in our community,” said Taylor Rocheleau, President of the local CASA Board, “There is no other volunteer experience like being a CASA volunteer, and I encourage anyone interested to find out more about the work we do and how you can become a part of it.”
Information sessions for community members interested in becoming a CASA are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm in the CASA office located in Room 101 of the Navarro College Mexia Campus, 901 N. M.L.K. Jr. Highway, or by calling Ashley Gomez at 264-600-9909.
