Christmas was a little more joyful for foster children in Pulaski and Perry counties thanks to the volunteers at Court Appointed Special Advocates. The nonprofit advocates, non-lawyers who represent foster kids’ interests in court, struggle to assist more than 1,000 kids in Pulaski County alone. Last month, CASA coordinated holiday presents for each child, and volunteers — including Recycle Bikes for Kids and the Beta Club at Mount St. Mary Academy — made all the difference in providing gifts.

Some 600 foster children in Pulaski County do not yet have a CASA volunteer. Those without a volunteer to ease the overburdened system are twice as likely to languish without finding a safe, permanent home. The CASA team offers three ways to help: Donate by making a tax-deductible financial contribution; volunteer, get trained and help children make their way through the system; or get involved simply by reaching out and staying connected. To donate, volunteer or get information, visit PulaskiCountyCASA.org or call 501-340-6732.

In another noble effort, the Little Rock School District has joined with several partners to boost learning and brain development from birth to age 5. AETN, the state Department of Health and the Arkansas Home Visiting Network are among the leaders of a campaign called “Talking Is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing.” The school district’s pre-K programs will team with the state to share resources and help parents and caregivers talk, read and sing more frequently to young children to boost their vocabularies, engagement and school readiness. The goal, aided by WIC nutritionists, is to have every Arkansas child on a path to grade-level reading abilities by the end of third grade. More information and resources for parents are available at AR-GLR.net.

January is here, Mom and Dad. Think out with the old and in with the new. The back-to-school frenzy and the holiday breaks are behind us. So throw out or donate all the broken and forgotten toys; donate those outgrown summer clothes and winter coats; give away the baby books your kindergartners and first-graders no longer need; and make a note to remember all these giveaways at tax time next year. You can even get rid of all those Tupperware bottoms and lids that no longer fit together. Life is too short for that aggravation!