15-year-old Sebastian desperately needed a CASA volunteer after being in foster care for three years. CASA Maryann made sure he didn't have to face foster care alone when she met him in January 2019. Over the last year and a half, Maryann and Sebastian have developed a wonderful relationship and have bonded over Sebastian's love for football.
Once COVID-19 arrived in Texas, CASA Maryann was actually able to see Sebastian more: instead of a monthly visit to his foster home, CASA Maryann called Sebastian over FaceTime every week to check on him and make sure he was doing okay. During one of their FaceTime calls, Sebastian showed CASA Maryann his creative problem solving skills: Sebastian filled jugs with water and used them as weights to begin football conditioning. Sebastian told CASA Maryann about how he was keeping busy during the pandemic by running and riding his bike, participating in community service at church, and cooking for his foster mother and foster siblings. In addition to football, Sebastian shared with CASA Maryann his love for cooking: every morning Sebastian cooks his own breakfast sandwich, and he recently made a Chinese buffet dinner for his family. Sebastian and CASA Maryann began bonding over their shared love of food!
CASA Maryann told Sebastian she had a out-of-this-world macaroni and cheese recipe. Sebastian's foster mother got all the ingredients, and Sebastian and CASA Maryann made Maryann's macaroni and cheese recipe over FaceTime last month. From the picture, it looks like it was a success! Sebastian and CASA Maryann are already talking about their next "cooking class" where Sebastian will teach CASA Maryann how to make sweet rice. We can't wait to see the finished result!