Three sisters team up to advocate for area children

The sister squad and the three amigos are a couple of names they are being called.

Formerly known as the Cruse sisters, Collette Walker, Mary Light and Diane Curtis have become advocates for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of South Central Missouri. The sisters joined together because they wanted to “do something good” which is their mantra.

They were recently sworn-in as CASA volunteers at the Phelps County Courthouse by Associate Judge Mark Calvert of the 25 ^th judicial circuit.

“Our Dad is a part of the reason,” Walker explained. “He helped everyone.” Their Dad is the late Bob Cruse, a longtime Rotarian and a person who reached out to lend a hand to folks in the Rolla area community on a regular basis. He and his wife, the late Carolyn Cruse, owned and managed the Piggly Wiggly Grocery franchise in the former Hillcrest Shopping Center on Highway 72 in Rolla where several family members worked.

Together, the couple also owned stores in St. Robert, Salem and Owensville. In retirement, Cruse managed the Rolla License Bureau which benefited the Champions of Rolla Education (CORE) at the time.

“We took several mission trips with him,” said Light. “We’re hoping to make a difference like our father.”

“During the years raising their children, they felt that they didn’t have the time, but now we do,” Walker said.

The sisters now have their first CASA case advocating for three brothers.

“The stories told during our CASA training were tremendous with so much wisdom,” Curtis explained. “The training was very insightful. It really prepared us for what to expect.”

The nonprofit CASA organization relies on dedicated staff and community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the 25 ^th judicial circuit which includes four counties: Texas, Maries, Pulaski and Phelps.

CASA volunteers are advocates, mentors and friends to children in the foster care system. For more information contact the Rolla office at 573-426-KIDS or 573-426-5437.

The post Three sisters team up to advocate for area children appeared first on Houston Herald .