As an organization dedicated to supporting children and families in crisis, we recognize that holidays can be a delicate and nuanced time for many. In this series, Purposeful Perspectives, we asked our staff members to select a season, month, or day that is meaningful to them to share with our CASA community. Thank you for joining us as we take a deeper look behind the celebrations that fill our lives.

October is a melancholy month for me.  

I was at the Georgia State Fair in Perry, freshly thirteen, the last time my family was completely together. Within a week, my father was incarcerated for abuse, catalyzing deeper poverty and a different kind of suffering for those of us that remained. It was difficult to celebrate my relief from abuse while also feeling like my family was shattered. Unlike many who experience similar circumstances, my mom, brothers, and I still had each other for love and support; a blessing that endures to today. 

This painful but defining experience is what brings me to this work.  

Children and families are navigating hurt, loss, and crisis every day. There is no quick fix, but CASA volunteers step into these fractured moments and help nudge everyone forward, one step at a time. If I can be a part of raising awareness, advocating for resources, and speaking up for permanent connections to family, I will.  

The time my family had together as I grew up was imperfect; we struggled for basic needs, fought with each other, and blamed ourselves. We may never have had the photos at the pumpkin patch or – more importantly – the father we needed, but we had each other during a season of instability. And every year when October rolls around, I remember that day at the fair and the ensuing events. It reminds me that even though family members can be the cause of great suffering, family can also be a source of strength.