Finding His Voice and His Future: Hunter & Marcia

When CASA Marcia met Hunter, she didn’t arrive with a plan. She arrived with a question.

“What are your goals?”

For a young teen navigating the foster care system, that question mattered. It told Hunter (name changed for confidentiality) something he hadn’t always experienced—that his voice counted. That his future was his to shape.

Marcia, a retired speech therapist turned CASA volunteer, understood the power of being heard. After years of working with children, especially those in foster care, she knew many carried dreams that too often went unsupported. Becoming a CASA gave her the chance to change that—not from a distance, but by showing up consistently for one child at a time.

Hunter had a goal: Nearly 15, he wanted a job.  He had the motivation. He had the determination. What he needed was someone to help him take the next step.

Hunter’s foster home was a busy place with several teenagers.  CASA Marcia met with Hunter at the local library for their regular conversations.  It offered a quiet place for them to connect and over time the library staff came to know Hunter.  They set aside a room where Hunter and Marcia could meet and began recommending books they thought he would enjoy. 

Seeing that connection,  Marcia had an idea.  She reached out to the library staff to ask if there were any volunteer or job opportunities available.  Because of the positive impression Hunter had already made the staff were open and supportive, connecting Marcia and Hunter with the right people to explore. Before long, Hunter had a volunteer position at the library.

It may sound like a small step. But for Hunter, it was something bigger:

  • A place where he belonged
  • A chance to build responsibility
  • A way to gain real-world experience

And most importantly, it was proof that he could do this.


However, Marcia didn’t stop there.


While Hunter was gaining confidence at the library, CASA Marcia was working behind the scenes, connecting with his case team, exploring school-based opportunities. She kept her eyes open in the community and found someone willing to donate a bike, something that could help Hunter get around more easily and build his independence.   

Because of those efforts, Hunter is now in a much stronger position to apply for a summer job.  But the real transformation isn’t just on a résumé. It’s in Hunter himself. He’s speaking up more. He’s sharing his goals. He’s beginning to believe in what’s possible.

Marcia often says that being a CASA is about more than speaking for a child, it’s about helping them find their own voice. That’s exactly what’s happening with Hunter. Through consistent support, encouragement, and belief, one volunteer helped a young person move from uncertainty…to action.

From hesitation…to confidence.

From “maybe someday”…to “I’m ready.”

You, too, could be that difference for a child in Berks County.
Right now, there are children in Berks County who are waiting for someone like Marcia.

Someone who will ask the right question.
Someone who will believe in them—sometimes before they believe in themselves.
Whether you choose to volunteer your time or support this work as a donor, you become part of stories like Hunter’s.

👉 Become a CASA volunteer
👉 Support a child’s journey today

Because sometimes, all it takes to change a life… is one person willing to show up.