History of CASA of Madison County
1977 - Top of Alabama Regional Council on Governments (TARCOG), Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Director Bob Gonia, received a grant from Alabama Commission on Aging.
1978 - CASA was organized to insure services were provided to homebound persons of all ages, helping them to continue living at home. Interfaith Mission Service contracted with TARCOG to establish a network of volunteers to meet these needs. The Regional Director, Wanda McDonald, was hired to develop CASA program in 5 counties. Steering Committee formed from church leaders & representatives from community senior services.
1979 - Additional funding from ARC enabled IMS to hire a CASA Coordinator for each of the 5 counties under the direction of the Regional Director. Ken Knowles, Chairperson, leads the Regional Advisory Council in 5 counties. Each county organized congregational clusters, recruited volunteers, trained. Became operational; Madison County Advisory Council - Molly Kitchens, Chairperson; hired 1st. Field Worker for 20 hrs. @ $4.75 hr. office in Senior Center which provided supplies; 4 churches devoted 83 hours of work to assist 16 clients.
1980 - 66 volunteers devoted 325 hours. 48 clients were served with 493 units of service. Pat Hair serves as CASA Executive Director for 5 counties, and is based out of the Interfaith Mission Service office.
1981 - $7,000 in-kind funding required; Trinity Service Organization became volunteers; Sallie Estes hired as County Coordinator/Field Worker for 35 hrs. @ $4.75hr; Appalachian Regional Committee (ARC) Grant; 442 clients served through 36 congregations devoting 6,520 volunteer hours; County Regional Advisory Board dissolved.
1982 – In April, Advisory Council incorporated - formed Board of Directors, Molly Kitchens, Pres.; IMS is still the contracting agent for CASA; Volunteers other than from churches; first TV coverage; INCORPORATED; first Newsletter; CASA Regional Director for 5 counties no longer needed; County Coordinators become County Directors @ $5.00 hr.; 79 groups and churches devoted 10,067 volunteer hours to serve 885 clients. CASA was granted autonomy as an agency October 1, 1982.
1983 – In celebration of TVA’s 50th Anniversary, CASA receives a $10,000 grant for weatherization; 25 teams of 186 volunteers assisted with TEMP$ (Taking Energy Measures Personally = $avings) to winterize 50 homes; received Venture Grant money to establish Med CO/OP program.
1984 – Became a United Way Agency.
1985 - CASA hired part time County Coordinator & Secretary for 8 hrs. a week, respectively. As workload increased, County Coordinator & secretarial job were combined to form Administrative Assistant’s job at 40 hours a week; Project Independence Award for Alabama - received award in Washington, D.C.
1986 - Received Venture Grant for a 10 hour a week Homemaker (Operation Pride).
1987 - Venture Grant money was depleted and CASA Homemaker was incorporated into CASA program.
1988 - Along with Project Grow, 82 volunteers devoted 188 hours to develop what is now known as the CASA Community Garden.
1989 - 284 different churches and community groups devoted 479,164 volunteer hours to CASA programs; 3 staff: Executive Director, Associate Director, Volunteer Coordinator.
1991- Kitchens for CASA fundraiser chaired by Ginger Fail; John Bouffard computerizes the TEMP$ program.
1992 - Points of Light Award - presentation in Washington, DC.
1993 - Emily Stinson chairs TEMP$ program, 375 homes weatherized.
1994 - Garden produces 5,000 lbs. of vegetables; 32 wheelchair ramps were built.
1995 – CASA host its first Alternative Spring Break; Jim Call joins as volunteer garden director; garden produces 5,800 lbs. of vegetables.
1996 - Part time bookkeeper hired; garden produces 9,026 lbs. of vegetables.
1997 - Garden produces 10,293 lbs.; Ann Anderson hired as Executive Director.
1998 – Transportation provided for 120 clients - 4,000 volunteer hours; CASA ramp volunteers receive AGS Intergenerational Award; garden produces 11,826 lbs. of vegetables.
1999 - CASA Community Garden Volunteers receive AGS Intergenerational Award; garden produces 14,473 lbs. of vegetables.
2000 - NASA volunteers built 4 wheelchair ramps, painted 5 ramps, installed 3 storm doors, and donated 75 air conditioners; a group from the US Army built one ramp; Lee High School donated 1000 cans of food from their Christmas food drive; garden produces 18,612 lbs. of vegetables.
2001 - CASA Community Garden relocated to Bob Wallace; CASA receives “National Association of Counties Acts of Caring” Award in Washington D.C.; garden produces 19,204 lbs. of vegetables.
2002 - Bethlehem Baptist organizes the first Community Changers; Marshall Space Flight Center built three wheelchair ramps and painted 3 ramps; 177 homes were weatherized on TEMP$ day; garden produces 5,264 lbs. of vegetables.
2003 - Celebrated 20th Anniversary of TEMP$ Weatherization project; CASA collaborated with UAH School of Nursing and the American Red Cross to provide Disaster Preparedness Kits to our elderly clients; 410 clients received Christmas gifts; built 128 ramps; garden produces 11,954 lbs. of vegetables.
2004 - CASA receives Huntsville Hospital Healthy Community grant for our Safety Net program; CASA office moves to 2327 B Pansy Street; built 133 ramps; 494 Safety Net client home visits made; 170 pieces of medical equipment were provided to clients; garden produces 12,808 lbs. of vegetables. 3 part-time, 3 full-time CASA staff.
2005 - CASA Community Garden produces 8,100 lbs. of vegetables; 556 Safety Net client home visits made; 366 pieces of medical equipment were provided to clients; built 86 ramps; installed 134 grab bars and handrails. 3 part-time, 3 full-time CASA staff.
2006 - CASA built 90 ramps; installed 158 grab bars and handrails; 632 Safety Net client home visits made; 391 pieces of medical equipment were provided to clients; garden produces 12,545 lbs. of vegetables. 4 part-time, 3 full-time CASA staff.
2007 - CASA office moves to the United Way Building, 701 Andrew Jackson Way; built 103 ramps; installed 159 grab bars and handrails; 775 Safety Net client home visits made; 391 pieces of medical equipment were provided to clients; garden produces 6,881 lbs. of vegetables with the help of 5,567 CASA volunteers. Community Changers utilized over 100 student volunteers to paint 9 houses, build 1 wheelchair ramp, paint 8 wheelchair ramps, and repair 1 wheelchair ramp. 4 part-time, 3 full-time CASA staff. Daily Points of Light award July 4, 2007. Better Business Bureau Marketplace Ethics Finalist.
2008 - 5,566 CASA volunteers devoted 63,319 volunteer hours to: deliver 591 pieces of durable medical equipment; deliver 46 fans, 41 A/Cs, 105 heaters; 1,046 Safety Net client home visits made; 467 pieces of medical equipment were provided to clients; install 293 grab bars and handrails; build 103 ramps, paint 69 ramps, repair 82 ramps; deliver 574 food boxes; provide transportation to 1,123 appointments and errands; garden produces over 4,100 lbs. Community Changers utilized 128 student volunteers to work on 20 CASA client homes and build 4 wheelchair ramps. CASA Community Garden receives AGS Intergenerational Award. 4 part-time, 4 full-time CASA staff. Better Business Bureau Marketplace Ethics Finalist.