CASA works to ensure all children have necessities, including love

Almost weekly, our first-grade daughter, Karyn, has a play date with one or two friends, either at our house or theirs.

When Daddy was her age " during the Dark Ages " play dates had not been invented. Daily, we played with neighbor kids, who were plentiful within a block of our small-town home. But today, with fewer children per family, Karyn is apparently the only kid in the subdivision. Ergo, play dates.

When one of her friends came over for the most recent one, they spent much time changing into a full range of costumes, including of course various "High School Musical" outfits. When I was her age, neither I nor anyone else in my school had a closet full of clothes, nor more toys than they could keep track of. I had one light jacket that was so special I'd wear it in any weather because I felt so sharp in it.

This is not a screed on rampant materialism or complaining that kids these days don't know how good they've got it. Quite the contrary, I know our country's material affluence today is a wonderful thing. Folks need not go hungry or without shelter even if homeless, thanks to many efforts such as FOCUS house, the FISH dining room, holiday dinner donations and free or very low-cost dining at various local businesses.

Nonetheless, it's hard being poor, even when poverty is more about relative deprivation and dim prospects than want of necessities. A larger percentage of children than ever before are shuttled through temporary homes and institutions, deprived of some things nearly as important as food, clothing and shelter " love and care, discipline and instruction, a sense of attachment and security, and the other benefits provided by families. Their poverty is as much spiritual and human as material.

Fortunately, there are some folks who reach out to care for children they didn't even bring into the world. They include foster and adoptive parents and the volunteers at Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA).

Locally, CASA is a non-profit organization, not a government agency, whose volunteers are appointed by courts to investigate and speak for the interests of children in custody, living arrangements and other matters where children are often the victims of adults' situations, problems and tussles. I'm awed and humbled by what CASA and foster and adoptive parents do. They find purpose and joy in giving love and care to the least fortunate in our community.

If you want to help this work " as a volunteer, donor, or otherwise " call CASA Director Chris Bayer at 882-6776. I wish all children were as fortunate as Karyn. Until they are, in helping needy children, we can also enrich our own lives.

- Economist and University Regent Ron Knecht, of Carson City, serves on the board of Carson City CASA.