CASA teams up with Taco Bell to raise coats for kids

The local Taco Bell restaurants are teaming-up with a local nonprofit organization to make sure kids in need are getting winter clothes to keep them warm this holiday season.

On Monday afternoon the Court Appointed Special Advocates group joined together with local law enforcement officials to thank the director of the six local Taco Bell restaurants, Bill Mandler, for raising enough money to provide coats, hats, boots, etc., for the 250 kids CASA serves.

CASA is made-up of volunteers who help give children a voice in the court system when they have been abused, abandoned, or taken from their homes.

“Many times when they are pulled out of the home, they only have what is on their backs,” CASA president Natasha Lattin said. “So we were also able to help officers provide child seats for the younger children who are pulled out. Those things you don’t necessarily think about.”

Over the past three years Taco Bell has raised $34,000 for CASA, and Lattin said this money will also help provide backpacks and school supplies for those children for this upcoming school year.

CASA director Cori Hadley said this has been part of the program’s “No Child Goes Cold” campaign, and nonprofits such as CASA have been hard-pressed for donations and volunteers these past few years.

“Oh gosh, the only thing I could say is we need volunteers so badly,” Hadley said. “We are just absolutely swamped. Our staff is taking case, after case, after case because there are no volunteers to take all of the cases that come in.”

She said they won’t turn any cases down, and said this past year they saw the number of cases nearly triple.

She said if anyone is interested in volunteering, you can contact the group at: 208.232.CASA or visit the group’s website here:http://www.6thcasaidaho.org/