ADDITIONS — Oaths were administered to two new volunteers as volunteer advocates for A Child’s Place Court-Appointed Special Advocates. On hand for the occasion were, from left: Sherry Paull, CASA board member; Becca Mitchell, volunteer coordinator for CASA; 1st Judicial Circuit Court Judge Joseph Barki; Rhonda Stubbs, CASA executive director; and newly inducted volunteers Lorrie Raymond and Cassidy Brink. -- Contributed

NEW CUMBERLAND — Two new volunteers have joined A Child’s Place Court-Appointed Special Advocates, a nonprofit group that represents the interests of children involved in abuse and neglect cases in Brooke, Hancock and Jefferson counties.

Following the completion of 30 hours of training, Lorrie Raymond and Cassidy Brink were administered oaths as advocates by 1st Judicial Circuit Court Judge Joseph Barki.

Rhonda Stubbs, executive director of the Follansbee-based organization, noted the volunteer advocates will work with the court system to ensure youth involved in abuse and neglect cases in the three counties are in the best care moving forward.

Their duties will include attending court hearings affecting the youth and supporting efforts by child protective service workers by gathering information aimed at ensuring they are in the care of a responsible adult.

“It’s a long-term commitment and requires a lot of heart, but there isn’t another volunteer experience that matches what you’ll get with CASA,” Stubbs said.

Since A Child’s Place CASA was established in Brooke and Hancock counties in 2000, it has served 1,082 children.

It currently serves 129 children in the three counties through the efforts of eight volunteers, with additional volunteers needed.

Those interested in serving as a volunteer or making a donation of money or materials to A Child’s Place CASA can call or text (304) 737-4444 or visit childsplacecasa.com.

A Child’s Place CASA was recently named the Brooke County Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit Organization of the Year.

It will celebrate its 25th anniversary through two special events, officials stated.

An open house will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at its office, located at 613 Main St. in Follansbee. A dinner will be held following the open house at Vito’s 2 restaurant.

Tickets for the dinner are $35 each or $55 for two tickets. Tickets are available online at childsplacecasa.com/donate.