Blessed Sacrament students donate 'birthday bags' to CASA

JONESBORO, Ark- A class at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School presented 30 birthday bags to Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Second Judicial District (CASA) today.

Each class at the school completes a community service project yearly and, a kindergarten class chose to create the birthday bags.

This is the fourth year they have created the bags that will go to foster children on their birthday in the region.

Each birthday bag is covered with decorations and has a toy inside.

During the presentation, students learned about CASA and the foster care system.

Both CASA advocate coordinator Michael Graham and Poinsett County supervisor for Division of Children and Family Services Amanda Baker say they wouldn’t be able to give foster children present without this assistance.

To children in foster care, a birthday bag is more than just receiving present.

“On children’s birthdays that are in foster care, we recognize them and bring them a birthday bag. They get so excited. It’s a really great thing,” says Graham.

“A lot of times you, know children do come into foster care…where they come in on their birthday," Baker said. "And so, when they’re at the office, it gives us the opportunity to buy them a cake and use the gift bags to make sure they know that somebody is recognizing their birthday as well.”

Currently, there are roughly 72 children in foster care in Poinsett County.

Both Graham and Baker say they’re thankful for Blessed Sacrament making the birthday bags each year.