CASA of Lexington’s Joy Tree program seeks holiday help for children in foster care

CASA of Lexington is seeking community support for its Joy Tree holiday program, which provides holiday wish lists for children served by the organization’s Court Appointed Special Advocate program, according to LEX18. The effort is designed to connect caring adults with specific needs identified by children and their advocates, helping those children experience the holiday season with support from the broader community.

The Joy Tree initiative centers on wish lists created by children involved with CASA of Lexington. The lists, LEX18 reported, offer a window into what participating children want for the holidays and also into the circumstances faced by children in foster care. CASA volunteer advocates work with the children and coordinate with the nonprofit as part of the court process that CASA programs support.

LEX18’s report described Joy Tree as a way to translate that relationship into practical holiday assistance. Organizers said the program relies on individuals and groups willing to fulfill wish list items, which are intended to bring a measure of normalcy and steadier support during a time that can be especially challenging for children who have experienced instability or separation from their families.

CASA of Lexington’s court-advocate model is built around the idea that children in foster care benefit from consistent attention and representation in legal proceedings. The nonprofit’s volunteer advocates focus on the child’s best interests and help the court understand the child’s needs, while also working to strengthen services and connections around the child.

The Joy Tree request comes ahead of the holiday period, with the stated goal of giving the children served through the program an opportunity to receive items they have selected. LEX18 said the wish lists are part of how the program organizes help, and that those lists reflect both typical childhood preferences and the realities facing children in care.

Organizers did not describe public-safety or court changes tied directly to the holiday program in LEX18’s account. Instead, the initiative focuses on community participation and logistics around gift support, with the nonprofit positioning the program as a practical extension of its broader advocacy work for children in foster care.