Emily Gilmore
CASA of Terrebonne would like to introduce CASA Volunteer, Emily Gilmore. Born and raised in Houma, LA, Emily attended Nicholls State University, where she and her husband met. Emily's husband served in the U.S. Army for 28 years and is now retired. She has been married for 30 years and has two children. Emily's son was recently married, and her daughter is a senior at LSU as an Animal Science/pre-vet major. Her family loves animals and has several animals at home.
As an elementary educator for 30 years, Emily has taught children from many walks of life and has lost sleep over the safety, health, and family-life of prior students through the years. Her heart always went out to the struggling families and their children. She stated that she found out about CASA from Facebook. After some research, she concluded that CASA was a productive outlet to advocate for the children and families she wanted to help at school.
Emily has been a CASA Volunteer for two and half years and is still advocating on her first case. She states that her CASA experience has been rewarding. She's traveled hours to maintain communication and in-person visits with her CASA child. She spent the evening in the hospital watching "Mrs. Doubtfire" when her CASA child had no other visitor. She answered the phone when there was no one else to answer. Advocating for her CASA child has brought tears of joy, as well as tears of sadness. Emily states, "she wouldn't trade her CASA experience for anything."
In January, Emily partnered with fellow CASA Volunteer Amber Berry for her second CASA case. The Co-CASAs partnered to advocate for a family with four children. Emily was inspired to take on another case by a student who is in foster care that did not have a CASA. Emily became a CASA after her children were mostly grown and felt she had more time to advocate for a CASA child. She states, "Looking back, I could have become a CASA earlier in my life." Emily continues, "doing something to make a difference in a child's life is always better than doing nothing to help a child."
Thank you, Emily, for being dedicated to your CASA children and all children. We appreciate you!
