Court Appointed Special Advocates of South Central Kentucky has turned to similar agencies to augment its fundraising, having spent several months selling jewelry mainly to other CASA offices throughout the nation.

Rings and pendants bearing the CASA logo have been advertised online since August, and the jewelry has comprised the local organization’s primary means of raising money in that time.

“We have been targeting about 950 CASA programs nationwide with this jewelry, but we will sell to anyone,” said Will Constable, the local CASA’s executive director.

The local agency, which uses volunteers who advocate for child victims of abuse and neglect in the family court system, receives about 40 percent of its funding from United Way of Southern Kentucky, but otherwise subsists on individual donations and fundraisers.

Constable said the idea for selling jewelry came about during a trip with his wife to Shavonne Corp., an Etowah, Tenn., jewelry manufacturer.

“My wife wanted to sell jewelry, so we went to this manufacturer,” Constable said. “I listened to his sales spiel and I started thinking, ‘this might work for CASA.’ ”

As a result, Constable ordered 500 pendants and 600 rings, half with gold finish and the other half with rhodium finish.

The jewelry is being advertised on CASA’s Web site, but orders must be taken over the phone or by mail - no PayPal account or similar secure online purchasing method has been established for the jewelry.

CASA’s ability to raise funds has been limited for several months because of United Way’s annual fundraising campaign, which began Aug. 15 and ends Saturday.

During that time, Constable said since CASA is a full-member United Way agency, it is not allowed to hold fundraisers in counties served by the local United Way during its annual campaign.

That has led to a Bike-a-Thon fundraiser recently in Metcalfe County, where the agency was able to make contacts with leaders there despite cold weather lowering turnout.

Otherwise, jewelry sales have been the only moneymaker for the agency.

“We’ve sold $1,500 worth, about 85 pieces, all to other CASA programs,” Constable said.

CASA has set a fundraising goal this year of $36,000, which Constable said may be attainable after next month’s Casas for CASA playhouse raffle.

— For more information, visit www.casaofsck.org or call 782-5353.