Last Updated on 5/17/2013

Published on 7/3/2012

Too bad. One of our reporters has tried to find out more about plans for CASA — now CASA II — and efforts for helping victims of domestic violence and abuse.
The former executive director of CASA was recently arrested and charged with embezzlement, and the Georgetown Times and other news media have reported that the safe houses in Georgetown and Horry counties have closed.
Our reporter was told that the incident was past and the organization is “tired of talking about it.”
Well, that’s really not good enough.
Domestic violence is a terrible blight on society. Worse than that, it’s a tragedy for the victims of abuse. They’re usually, but not always, women with kids. In many cases these victims need help, and they need a safe place to stay.
That’s been the mission for CASA — Citizens Against Spouse Abuse — and they and the Family Justice Center and other helping organizations are to be commended for the countless good things they have done to help those in need.
That being said, people are generous but they also want to know that when they share their hard-earned money with any helping organization, that group is diligent about being a good steward of the donations it receives.
Deciding you’re tired of talking about a tough situation doesn’t do much to help rebuild confidence.
People in Georgetown County have a long history of being generous.
Outstanding examples of such generosity include the Tidelands Hospice Center, the Salvation Army, YMCA, Teach My People, churches, the United Way and many others.
But any organization has an obligation to live up to its mission and to be good stewards of the hard-earned funds that people give.
Being open and above-board does more for building confidence than clamming up because you’re “tired of talking about it.”