Some holidays feel bright on the outside and heavy on the inside. We sit down with Liz Gaught from the Center for Children and Families to show what hope looks like when it’s built on everyday actions: a single recorded interview that spares a child from retelling trauma, a counselor stepping into a living room to spot strengths and needs, a wish list that becomes new clothes and a toy to open on Christmas morning.

Starting with CASA and growing across 48 parishes in Louisiana and seven counties in Mississippi, the Center pairs advocacy, education, and prevention with direct services that meet families where they are. Liz walks us through the Children’s Advocacy Center approach, why prevention trainings matter, and how the new Hope Center in West Monroe adds counseling and medication management for kids who need both therapy and clinical care. The thread running through it all is trust: families see the same team before and after the holidays, and donors know gifts reach specific children already in services.

We also talk about the Christmas Project—how it began with 50 soccer balls and now mobilizes businesses, churches, and neighbors to adopt wish lists, host collection sites, and fund essentials you won’t find under a tree. One powerful example: a partner donation purchased six mattresses for siblings who had been sleeping on air beds and the floor. That’s what local support can do when relationships are in place and needs are verified.

Behind these programs is a culture that protects the protectors. Liz shares how leadership builds a workplace where heavy stories meet real recovery—puzzles on the table, shared meals, short walks, and benefits that help teams stay grounded. We close with a reminder that the tunnel isn’t the end; there is light, and community keeps it burning. If you’re ready to help or need help, visit standforhope.org. If this conversation moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who believes hope should last longer than a season.