CASA director speaks to Madison Civitans
Ann Anderson, the director of the Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound of Madison County, wants to spread the word on the services available from her organization. She spoke at a recent lunch meeting of the Madison Civitans to do just that.
CASA's main goal is to assist senior citizens with their everyday tasks like getting to and from the doctor, weatherizing their houses, and providing nutritional food that they may not be able to acquire or afford. They counsel those who are given the task of caring for the elderly and help provide equipment needed after surgery and physical therapy. They build and repair wheelchair ramps.
Anderson said no one else provides the kind of services CASA does, and that she is very thankful for the volunteers that give their time and money to help.
"This community is blessed to have these organizations that give and care," Anderson said.
The demand in Madison County is more than CASA can always deliver, so volunteers are always welcome. There are more than 3,700 names in Casa's database.
The Madison Civitans, part of an association of community service clubs, meets twice a month and has speakers like Anderson at each meeting.
Civitan's purpose is to provide opportunities for personal and professional development while improving communities through community service. Civitan was founded in Birmingham in 1917. There are approximately 32,000 members in nearly 1,200 clubs throughout the world. Civitan's most widely recognized fund-raising program is the Civitan Candy Box Project. The Candy Box Project is serviced by volunteers and 100 percent of the net proceeds benefit people with mental disabilities.
Recent projects undertaken by the Madison Civitans include assisting with Madison Beautification projects, painting the fence at the Madison Senior Center, assisting with the HelpLine gift wrap booth at Christmas, donating bags of food to needy students in the Madison School system, and many others.
Meetings are held the first and third Thursdays of every month at the Radisson Inn in Madison from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. For more information, call Susan Ferrante, Club President at 460-0157 or 656-3116.
