Page 30 - 2025 Van Buren Chamber Community Profile

QUALITY OF PLACE

Area Non-Profits Fill Community Needs

Many organizations in Van Buren and Thursdays of each month at noon, and when volunteer contributes between five and ten
the region work to fill needs for segments there is a fifth Thursday in a month, a social hours per month.
of the community that may otherwise activity is held in the evenings that includes CASA advocates serve as vital voices for
be underserved. Some provide financial spouses and prospective members. When their children in the courtroom. By providing
resources, and others are more “hands-on” – the Chamber relocates to its new Business detailed court reports, volunteers assist
actively participating as volunteers in events Resource Center in spring 2025 (see story family court judges in making informed
and day-to-day services that change peoples’ on page 58), the club will move its regular decisions, leading to improved outcomes for
lives. meetings to the new center. children.
This section aims to shine the spotlight Over the years, the club has participated These volunteers are often the only
on a number of the region’s non-profit and in popular community events, such as individuals solely dedicated to advocating
civic groups, in an effort to educate about creating floats for the annual Veterans Day for their child. Research indicates that
their missions and encourage participation and Christmas parades. The group also takes children who have a CASA advocate report
by citizens through the giving of their time, part in Jingle & Mingle on Main Street, and higher levels of hope, which correlates with
talents, and/or resources. the Festival of Trees at the holidays. In 2023 their ability to thrive.
Rotary Club of Van Buren the club completed the restoration of Blanche “Our greatest need right now is for
Over the 104 years since its founding, the Moore Park in the downtown area, with new volunteers,” said Melanie Allen, Executive
Rotary Club of Van Buren has been involved ADA compliant restrooms, landscaping, and Director. “In our last fiscal year, which ended
in community projects and events that have lighting. in June, we had volunteers involved in 41
made Van Buren a better place to call home. Rotary Club of Van Buren is now partnering cases involving 82 children, and only have 16
As many other service organizations with the city of Van Buren to develop a new active volunteers right now.”
experienced in 2020 and 2021, the COVID dog park adjacent to City Park that is set Changing a child’s story is possible
pandemic severely impacted the club’s for an April 2025 ribbon cutting. The dog because a group of trained volunteers,
membership, according to Michelle Robinson, park will have separate enclosures for small appointed by judges, advocate for children
a Past President and current club Treasurer who and large breeds, with benches for owners, in the foster care and child welfare system
also serves Rotary International as a District activity equipment for the dogs, and water until their case is closed and they are in a
Assistant Governor Coordinator. “We lost fountains for both pets and their “parents.” safe, permanent home.
about half our membership being shut down Fundraising is ongoing for the project through “Volunteers need to be 21 or older, and
for a period of time, but we have built back to its completion. have a heart for helping children,” Allen
over 30 members now and are growing.” Court Appointed Special added. “We provide 30 hours of pre-service
The club meets on the second and fourth Advocates training in advance of their appointment
and support on an ongoing basis. They are
CASA (Court Appointed Special never alone in the process. We only ask for a
Advocates) of Crawford County volunteers 15-month minimum commitment.”
selflessly advocate for children who have Volunteers work with legal and child
faced abuse and neglect in Crawford County. welfare professionals, educators, and others
They are matched with children within the to ensure that judges have all the information
family court system who require an advocate. needed to make potentially life-changing
Each volunteer visits their assigned child decisions for each child, with a goal for these
monthly, engages with adults in the child’s stories to have better endings.
life, and reviews pertinent medical and Continued on page 32
educational records. On average, a CASA
MUNICIPAL

UTILITIES

Members of the Rotary Club of Van Buren
assemble hygiene bags for homeless
veterans in the community. Pictured are (l. 479-474-5067
to r.) Rotarian Emily Parks, Johnny Gothard
of the Robert Jack VFW Post 1322, and www.vbmu.org
Rotarians Ron Yukon and Larissa Ellison.
Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Van Buren

30 Van Buren Chamber 2025 Community Profile vanburenchamber.org