Paying It Forward: Students Donate To Children In Foster Care

MOKENA, IL — Students at Mokena Elementary School stepped up in a big way the week of Oct. 18 to collect donations for children in the foster care system. Students in pre-K through third grade and their families collected more than 300 items and donated them to CASA of River Valley, based in Joliet.

It all started with a chance meeting at Meijer in Mokena between Rebecca Howey, volunteer training coordinator at CASA of River Valley and a Mokena resident, and Andrea Lacny, a third grade special education teacher at Mokena Elementary School, Lacny said.

The pair, who had worked together at MES when Howey was a paraprofessional there, struck up a conversation. Howey told Lacny about the rise in foster care cases, and Lacny wanted to know what she could do to help.

Lacny got together with fellow MES third grade teacher Margie Janes, who along with Heather Esgar, also a third grade teacher, serve as Student Council coordinators. The trio came up with the plan to collect donations for the children in CASA’s care.

“We made up a flyer and had Student Council go and promote it, and had a really good turnout,” Janes said.

Janes, Esgar and Lacny set up tables labeled “CASA Donations” in the common area at MES, and the donations flooded in.

In total, the pre-K and kindergarten classes collected more than 100 hats and gloves; the first graders collected more than 100 sets of pajamas; second graders brought in approximately 40 sweaters and sweatshirts; and the third graders donated more than 80 board games for the children at CASA, Howey said.

“We were so excited with how responsive and supportive Mokena students and parents and families were. The whole community really supported this cause, and we were thrilled to be able to provide all these resources,” Lacny said.

Since the pandemic started last year, CASA has seen much higher rates of children entering the foster care system, Howey said. Historically, Will County will see about 200 children per year go through the foster care system, Howey said. Last year that number grew to 350. This year the number of children is expected to climb to about 400, if current trends stay as they are, Howey said.

“We’re in crisis mode,” Howey said. “Will County’s and Grundy County’s numbers have doubled since March 2019, and these counties have never seen numbers like this. Ever.”

Howey theorized that the sudden increase in unemployment last year at the beginning of the pandemic left many families with a significant increase in financial and personal stress. That, plus the demands placed on families caused by remote learning, may have led to the increase in the number of children being temporarily placed in the foster care system, Howey said.

“Even though parents try to do the best they can, sometimes it’s just not enough,” Howey said. “All parents love their children. They do. It’s just sometimes life gets overwhelming.”

CASA currently has approximately 100 volunteers, Howey said. Those volunteers are sworn in as legal officers of the court, or guardians ad litem, Howey said.

In their role as guardians, CASA volunteers receive training on how trauma affects children, make monthly visits to each child and his or her family in their caseload and collaborate with others who are involved in the child’s everyday life, such as teachers, daycare providers and therapists, Howey said. Volunteers are not required to be present at court hearings, but they do file reports that get submitted to the judges every six months, Howey said.

“They do an amazing job, and we certainly could not do what we do without them,” she said.

CASA accepts donations of clothing and recreational items for children, as well as monetary donations. All donations must be new; CASA is not permitted to accept used donations of any kind, Howey said.

Those who would like more information on how to donate to CASA can email casa@casaofrivervalley.org, or visit CASA’s website.

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