Volunteer Spotlight

Tod Lundy & Carole Elder

CASA Volunteers since Winter 2018

Meet Tod Lundy and Carole Elder! Tod and Carole have been advocating as a team since they heard about CASA from a friend. Once they listened to a local CASA presentation, Tod and Carole decided to complete the CASA training. They are currently serving as volunteers on their second case and are making a wonderful impact in the lives of the children they are advocating for.

Carole was born in Yakima Washington and was raised on her Grandfathers farm with her parents and two younger brothers. She lived for years on Vashon Island, WA, which is only accessible by Ferry. After meeting Tod 5 years ago, she moved to Clatsop County. She loves being near the Columbia River where the sky is big and there are no big cities close by.

Carole attended Yakima Community College and then graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Fine Art.  Her career varied over the years as she worked in libraries, as a gardener, and then as a bookseller in two different bookshops. In her free time, she likes to go birding, walking, gardening, and cooking (especially baking). She is interested in natural history and considers books and reading as a big part of her life. She considers herself “Never a writer but always a reader”.

Tod was born in Portland, Oregon, where he lived until his Father graduated from medical school. His family then moved to Eugene until 1965. Tod graduated from college with his degree in General Science and Architecture. He then lived and worked in New York City as an apprentice architect and eventually earned a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Tod has taught Architecture at the University of Kansas, King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia, and Portland State University.

Tod has always had an interest in child welfare and his “thesis” project was designing a neighborhood exclusively for foster families and foster children. He has served on the boards of Boys and Girls Aid Society in Portland and Youth Adventures in Clackamas County.

In 1975, Tod bought an old house in Astoria where he reconditioned it and rented it to low income families. After his retirement, he decided to move into it and has continued to improve it ever since.

Tod and Carole are currently advocating for 3 children. Their case has been open for over a year and they are very committed to spending time connecting with all three children through their many outings. Covid-19 has been a challenge for Tod and Carole, and they have had to find creative ways to stay connected with the children. When it was one of the children’s’ birthday, they were sure not to miss the opportunity to walk a cake over to their house and wish them a socially distanced Happy Birthday! They have helped their CASA kids navigate many traumatic situations, especially when the children have had to adjust to living in 2 different placements over the course of a year. Tod and Carole have been a constant support to these children throughout the case.

Tod says that taking kids on outings is not only a way to get to know the children but also a way they can help the children along this path to a better life. One of the most challenging parts of being a CASA is watching the parents, who love their children, struggle to change their lives.

Carole has enjoyed learning about the dependency court system and feels it is a wonderful opportunity to get to know and spend time with children who have experienced great trauma. She says that spending time with them is a delight. She shares that although the work of a CASA can be discouraging at times, it has been a window into what happens when drug abuse, and mental illness impacts parents, children, and society.

Tod and Carole continue to make a difference in the lives of the children they advocate for by showing consistent care and concern for their well-being and best interests.

Thank you, Tod and Carole!