Temple Mayor Tim Davis and Kevin Kyle, executive director for CASA of Bell & Coryell Counties
Ribbon cutting ceremony, at 900 W. Irvin Ave., performed with the help of members of Temple’s Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Tim Davis speaks at the open house for the new CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties building in Temple on Wednesday.
Bell County leaders and community members came together to support the grand opening of CASA of Bell & Coryell Counties at their new headquarters in Temple.
Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA of Bell & Coryell Counties have officially opened its doors and are ready to serve children and families of the area.
They are now located in the North Central Temple Historic District at 900 W. Irvin Ave. CASA spent more than seven years at its former rented location, but officials are excited to celebrate the new facility with the community.
“Our CASA board of directors really jumped into action back in February when we found out we were going to have to move unexpectedly,” Kevin Kyle, executive director for CASA of Bell & Coryell Counties, said. “They made this whole thing happen, within 30 days, they helped raise $100,000 for the down payment to get us in.”
The facility has been operational since March but city leaders, CASA staff, and volunteers celebrated the permanent housing by hosting an open house Wednesday.
The ceremony, celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour, marked the beginning of a new era for CASA as they purchased a “forever” home. CASA volunteers and donors were also recognized at the event.
The new facility features 8,000 square feet including 14 offices, a conference room and lobby area, a larger training room for new advocates, and office space dedicated to advocates to assist them as they write court reports and plans for home visits.
“CASA is not an organization that can live or continue the work we do the without the help of our community and our volunteers,” Ashley Clapper Bennett, president of CASA board of directors, said. “Those advocates are volunteers. The board members are volunteers. They are all here donating their time to help children in this community.”
A unique feature of the building is the courtyard area that volunteers hope to develop into a playground, or outdoor play area for families and children to utilize when making visits.
“It’s kind of a thankless job, but there’s a lot of reward at the end when you get to see families have success and come back together,” Kyle said. “We have about 150 volunteers right now. We train them, we equip them, we support them. The bad news is there’s almost 1,000 children out there right now in Bell and Coryell who need a volunteer advocate.”
The additional office spaces will allow CASA to continue growing their supervisory staff and recruiting more volunteers to ultimately serve more children in Bell and Coryell Counties.
CASA serves about 350 children annually, but have high hopes of expanding that number to 600 kids each year, within the next five years.
“We’re serving 23% of those children in Bell County, but there’s a vision to serve every one of them,” Deedra Baker, chief network service officer for Texas CASA. “This building is a key step in making that vision come true. It’s going to take all of us together to make this happen, but we believe in Kevin and we believe in this program.”
For Temple Mayor Davis, who spoke at the event, shared why the program holds such importance to him personally, as well as the community.
“I’m the middle of five kids, and this happened probably in 1971 or so,” Davis recalled. “My parents were on a foster parents list. One day I came home from school, I was 5, so kindergarten maybe first grade, and there’s a new kid sitting at our kitchen table and that new kid, his name was Charlie.”
Davis shared Charlie had been abused and neglected, but at the Davis’ home he was seen by a primary physician, who diagnosed him with muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue.
“Charlie walked strangely, so my mother took him to our family doctor,” Davis teared up as he told the story. “When he walked in, the doctor said, ‘That boy has muscular dystrophy.’ So, you guys know more than most, that his chances of adoption just plummeted.”
Charlie lived with the Davis’ for 5 years before entering a nursing home in Dallas, where he died at 23.
“To the families, where these little folks are being placed you think that you’re just doing a favor for the child that’s being placed, but what I saw is my parents with a house full of kids and no extra money, have the love in their heart to take in one more,” Davis said clearing the tears.
CASA of Bell & Coryell Counties are still looking for volunteer advocates and donations so they can continue to help the littlest of our community.
“I’m proud to be the mayor of Temple, and that we’re involved with bringing in businesses, and large economic development projects, all that’s fine,” Davis said. “But you were only as strong as your weakest link. And if you don’t show mercy and if you don’t show God’s kindness to others, then what are you here for?”
