Claire Wewers is proving that you are never too young and no gift is too small for the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal.
Wewers, a seventh grader at Christ the King School in Little Rock, listened to Bishop Anthony B. Taylor’s recorded homily during Mass Feb. 1 and decided to donate to the diocese’s annual appeal. Following Mass she took $15 from her wallet that she earned from babysitting, filled out the CASA pledge card and put it in the envelope provided at Mass.
Her mother, Kelly Wewers, asked her what she was doing with her money.
“She told me, ’I listened to what the bishop said and I want to do this.’ I was very proud of her. The bishop would be very proud that someone was listening,” Wewers said.
On the pledge card, Claire Wewers wrote, “I am 12 years old and I am not able to make a monthly pledge but I hope this helps at least a little.”
“I felt it was the right thing to do,” Wewers said.
Instead of donating her money somewhere else, Wewers said, “I just figured the CASA money went to help people.”
Dianne Brady, interim director of the Stewardship and Development Office, said, “It was pretty special that it came from a 12-year-old child who heard the message and acted on it. We want everyone to do that. We want everyone to participate at whatever level they are able to give. We want to increase CASA participation.”
CASA’s goal this year is $1,350,000. Donations help fund a variety of diocesan ministries, including seminarian expenses, Catholic Charities, Hispanic missions, youth ministry and grants to schools and religious education programs. Pledges and donations can be sent to the Diocese of Little Rock, P.O. Box 190610, Little Rock, AR 72219.
