United Way Youth as Resources

United Way of Central Minnesota’s Youth as Resources (YAR) volunteers are an excellent example of the positive impact youth and adult partnerships can have in a community. The current YAR board has ten high school youth and three adults that meet monthly to review grant proposals written by youth. YAR offers grants up to $1,000 for youth aged 5-21 who want to make a difference. The board members have the important task of allocating $15,000 annually to youth-led service projects.

The Youth as Resources board members carefully read the proposals reviewing each with a checklist of criteria to ensure the projects are youth-led, provide an opportunity for learning, and meet a community need. They discuss the proposals in a respectful manner, taking each person’s perspective into account. This past year, they funded 27 unique projects impacting residents of central Minnesota.

The board members also promote the program in their schools and communities. They talk with fellow students about the grant funding that is available. They write articles for their local newspapers sharing the story of YAR. They also work to raise funds for the program through staffing events and writing appeal letters to local service clubs. They are the leaders of YAR and determine the future direction of the program. They empower their peers to become active in community service. This program would not be viable without their enthusiasm and energy.

Here are some examples of the amazing projects they have funded during the last six years of the program’s existence:

Crafts for Meals on Wheels A group of middle school students regularly volunteer at the ROCORI Senior Center. They decided to make special monthly gifts to include with the meals delivered through the local Meals on Wheels program to bring joy to recipients.

Cheese Wagon Players High school students performed plays educating 713 elementary students about bullying and harassment, and how it can be addressed. The youth learned how to make positive decisions regarding their treatment of others.

Blankets for Anna Marie’s Students made 27 fleece blankets for residents of Anna Marie’s, a shelter for battered women and their children. This classroom consisting of students with disabilities had a fellow student sheltered at Anna Marie’s for a time and made the blankets to provide warmth for the residents.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for Youth Area youth planned an event for January 17 to touch on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy of working towards achieving equality through non-violent means. The day included activities and conversation on ways area youth can work towards achieving equality in their community.

Crystal Ingle

In June 2002, Carbon Hill High School was destroyed by a demoralizing fire, which left the small community reeling. Just as they were recovering, another tragedy struck their educational structure when a tornado damaged the elementary and junior high schools that November, leaving Carbon Hill with very little space and resources to educate their students. Their need was great and their sadness palpable.

Crystal Ingle, known for her giving spirit and extensive volunteer work, wanted to help. So, after visiting the site and talking with students and teachers, she decided to concentrate on an area close to her heart. With an intense interest in education and literacy, Crystal focused on restocking the libraries of all three schools, establishing the Carbon Hill Library Replenishing Book Drive in an effort to rebuild a part of what was lost.

Crystal was tireless, visiting over a dozen schools and participating in hundreds of events to share her mission and to encourage students and adults of all ages and all backgrounds to come together for a great cause. She wrote letters to local and state representatives and set up boxes in different locations throughout Walker County before extending the drive into the surrounding counties, eventually taking the effort statewide. A school in Florida even heard of Crystal’s attempt to help Carbon Hill, and after getting in touch with her, they worked together to send books toward her goal. In less than a year, over 10,000 books had been donated, worth approximately $50,000, and the schools were well on their way to having full libraries once again.

In an attempt to further include students in the drive’s goal, she also handed out book tags to allow those who donated books to feel like a part of the process. She wanted them to know and to be able to see what they were doing and to realize a part of them would go with the books.

In the meantime, Crystal was trying to continue her own education. As a full-time student at the University of North Alabama, she was busy balancing her volunteer work and her other responsibilities, using her free time, including her Christmas break, visiting local schools to read and talk with the children and to encourage participation in the book drive. She stressed the importance of literacy and community involvement, even to the younger students. She encouraged them all to continue their volunteer efforts beyond the book drive, just as she had been doing for years and has continued to do.

Although Crystal was the spokesperson for the drive, spearheading the effort and working diligently to see it succeed, she was always quick to appreciate everyone who played a part in the endeavor, making certain they realized what a difference they were making in the lives of those affected by such tragedy. By bringing together businesses, schools, and individuals in a common goal, she was not only replenishing the libraries but also helping to rebuild a broken community.

Johnson County RFD #1 Fire Safety Team

According to the US Fire Administration, Arkansas has one of the highest numbers of fire-related deaths in the US, with most of those being young children and the elderly. Children playing with fire accounted for 4% of residential fires and deaths in the state. The Centers for Disease Control report that Johnson County is between the 75th and 90th national percentile in fire- and burn-related deaths.

One group determined to change this is Johnson County RFD #1’s Fire Safety Team in Clarksville, Arkansas. The team comprised of the department’s firefighters and Fire Corps (University of the Ozarks Phi Beta Lambda students) has made a commitment to reduce fire deaths, civilian injuries and economic losses by increasing fire safety awareness by creating either a behavioral or environmental change to the public, not only within the district, but also throughout the county, state, and nation. Through innovative fire safety programming, there’s been a decrease in residential property loss each year.

Activities ranging from installing smoke alarms in low-income families’ and the elderly homes, to helping host a free safety fair to the entire community, RFD #1’s Fire Safety Team works year-round to reach as many people as possible, especially those most at risk, by conducting a variety of activities. If those in the community cannot make it to the activities, they make it a point to go to them. Since its inception, fire safety activities have reached over 42,000 people.

The Fire Safety Team has been in existence since September 2003 and continues to grow each year. In 2003, the department participated in 24 programs and activities, 40 in 2004 and 115 in 2005. RFD #1 is constantly working to improve its program and is following a five-year strategic plan for fire safety improving programming, not only locally and statewide, but nationally.

In November 2003, RFD #1 was notified by a parent of a six-year-old child that a presentation made to her son save his life. The child knew how to stop, drop and roll in an incident as a result of participating in the department’s fire safety programming. Furthermore, the mother stated that she “felt that had he not learned that behavior, he surely would have suffered severe injuries.” The child was accidentally touched with a burning marshmallow by another child, and she stated he immediately knew what to do, thus suffering only minor burns. His parent stated that the child said he “remembered what to do if my clothes caught on fire, the firefighters taught me.”

Through the involvement of the RFD #1’s Fire Corps and Firefighters, the department has seen a 287% increase in fire safety programming over the previous year. Innovative programming, such as the “Reading with Sparkles,” and the “Don’t Burn It, Recycle It” programs are just a few of the fire safety programs the team presents. The “Reading with Sparkles” program reinforces fire safety messages taught during Fire Prevention Week. Members take Sparkles, the department’s Dalmatian mascot to Clarksville Primary School each week and read fire safety books. RFD #1 Fire Safety Team is committed to keeping everyone fire safe.

Keith Anderson

Mr. Keith Anderson is a veteran who has been volunteering at the Buffalo Veterans Administration (VA) medical Center since April 2002. During these four years, Anderson has accumulated over 4,000 volunteer hours.

Anderson has taken an active role during his volunteering time. He goes above and beyond of what is asked. He is always smiling and eager to help others, while expecting nothing in return. He has a positive attitude and epitomizes the term “volunteer.”

Anderson packages and hands out “welcome kits” to new patients that are admitted into the VA Medical Center in Buffalo on a weekly basis. These kits have personal care items that patients can use to freshen up. On Thursday s, he sets up and pops popcorn to raise money for the Volunteer Recognition Program and Awards Ceremony in May. Additionally, he is an active volunteer in the No One Dies Alone Program (NODA). Through this program, he serves as a compassionate companion to those patients that have 48-72 hours left of life.

Anderson goes above and beyond regular volunteer assignments. He helps with the set-up, service, and cleanup of refreshments during ceremonies, which are often held mid-afternoons. During weekends, he will take groups around to assist with various recreational activities and tours. This year, he took a student group to visit the patients for Valentine’s Day. He is an active volunteer for our annual Re-Entry Support Team (REST) picnic and helps with food distribution as well as greeting people.

Anderson helps to transport supplies throughout the hospital. He keeps track of the supplies and lets them know when they need to order more. He also serves as a mentor for the new volunteers and is always making them feel welcomed and assists them in any way that he can. He often asks, “How can I help you?” or “How are you today?” and will check in every day with the members of the Voluntary Service Staff to see what their needs may be for that day. He truly cares about people and his community.

Anderson is an active volunteer with his church and the community. He works with troubled youth through his church, serves as a mentor and role model for them, and volunteers as a security guard with his church congregation. In addition he transports his friend for chemotherapy three times each week. Anderson is reliable, dependable, friendly and truly an asset to the veterans, their volunteer programs, and his community.

Children’s Family Center Grand Bears

In 1978, Children’s Family Center opened its doors on the campus of Messiah Village retirement community. The presence of a child-care center located within a retirement community was a new idea. Since its opening, Children’s Family Center (CFC) has encouraged the residents of Messiah Village to volunteer with the young children they serve. Now, over 27 years later, the relationship continues with 26 regular senior volunteers. These volunteers are known as Grand bears. The Grand bears come from all levels of care, including independent living, assisted living, nursing care, adult day services, and the Alzheimer’s unit.

The Grand bears are matched with the age of children that best suit their interests. The Grand bears volunteer with each one of CFC’s children, who range in age from 6 weeks through 12 years. The Grand bears can choose from activities such as reading to the children on a weekly basis, serving on the CFC Board of Directors, swimming with the Kindergarten class, rocking the babies in the nursery, chaperoning field trips, serving snacks, helping with arts and crafts, or periodically sharing their hobby with the children. Throughout the year, the Grand bears spend more than 600 hours of their time volunteering at CFC.

Another way that the Grand bears serve CFC is by helping the staff by giving individualized attention to the children. Grand bears fill in a gap by playing or working with the children in small groups or individually. Recently, one of CFC’s 3-year-olds told a Grand bear a long, drawn-out story about his family’s car breaking down on the highway. The teacher in the class would not have had the time to intently listen to this detailed story. The Grand bear, however, gave her undivided attention through the entire saga. This Grand bear’s presence met the immediate emotional and verbal needs of this child. At other times, Grand bears are available to comfort a crying child, teach a child how to use a glue stick, or help a small group with their puzzle.

The benefits of this program for both the children and Grand bears are numerous. However, the most important aspect of this program is the overcoming of age barriers that is a serious social problem that we in America face today. Through close interaction with the Grand bears, the children are able to form accurate views of older adults and the aging process. The Grand bears also serve as positive role models for the children.

CFC’s Grand bears consistently face challenges that are common for older adults. Several of the Grand bears are living with very serious diseases: congestive heart failure, depression, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease, to name just a few. In addition, they experience visual and hearing difficulties, lingering illnesses, and lots of aches and pains. Not only do they deal with physical problems, but also many of CFC’s Grand bears have recently experienced major life challenges, such as the death of a spouse, loss of driver’s license, and family conflicts. Despite these challenges, the Grand bears are very dedicated to fulfilling their commitments to CFC and share their unconditional love with the children.

Jaye & Mike Joseph

Early in 1980, Jaye Joseph began volunteering at the Jewish Home and Care Center every Tuesday with her mother, Lee Singer. These two ladies made Tuesday’s special with their visits and smiles, and their warm hearts were reflected in the faces of every person they visited. They helped with the monthly birthday party and other special events, and visited residents in their rooms.

It wasn’t long before the Women’s Service Auxiliary discovered Jaye’s talents. She agreed to serve as Volunteer Vice President in the early 1980s and has served continuously since then, including not one, but two terms of office as President! Jaye has done everything from coordinate the annual volunteer luncheon, to stuff envelopes for this organization. Jaye also quickly recruited husband Mike to join her as a direct service volunteer.

Jaye has shared her talent with countless Home special events, sharing her creativity and energy as a member of many planning committees throughout the years. She not only regularly attends meetings, but also is always one of the first to volunteer to help with the myriad of tasks needed for a successful event. During the event, she works at the registration table, greets people, and is the consummate hostess on behalf of the Home. Jaye also volunteers in the Village of Fox Point’s Stormonth School, where she is a weekly reading tutor.

Mike Joseph is the other half of the “dynamic duo.” He began at the Home calling Bingo and flipping pancakes, but soon was recruited for the Home’s Board of Directors. Mike has served on their Legal Committee, spent four years as Chairman of the Board, and recently completed four years of service as Chairman of the Board of the Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation. No task is ever too small for Mike, and he gives the same single-minded focus to listening to a resident as he does to making long-term plans for the Home. There are almost no limits to his availability as a board member, and his wisdom and commitment have been demonstrated time after time. Mike also has served on countless Home committees, including planning committees for annual dinners and other special events. He was a crucial member of the Jewish Home and Care Center team planning the recently completed Sarah Chudnow Campus in Mequon, and continues to be of help whenever asked to further the mission of the Home.

Mike has served on the Board of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, and has served the Diabetes Foundation both in a leadership role and as a direct service volunteer.

Students With A Purpose

Students With A Purpose was formed in August of 2002. the purpose of the program is to provide preventive, intervention activities and services for youth from many walks of life. Helping youth who are at risk socially, academically and those that are in foster care. The youth look for opportunities to give back to their community through their own service. These students we speak of are all middle and high school aged.

Students With A Purpose volunteered their services to Community Based Care during Make A Difference Day, 2004. It was their task to organize the clothing closet, which provides clothing for foster children in Volusia and Flagler Counties. Many times children come under the care of Community Based Care without any clothes. Students With A Purpose helped make the community Based Care clothing system user friendly. They did a terrific job, and this task incorporated a lot of team work.

Some of the youth involved with Students With A Purpose are part of the foster system and could relate to the experiences and clothing needs of foster children that Community Based Care serves. Because of this connection, Students With A Purpose chose to help Community Based Care and opened their hearts to serve their community by giving back with care for their peers.

When the Students With A Purpose group first saw the facility that they were asked to clean. They were unsure if they could make a difference because working in the storage room appeared to be a very difficult task. In the end they all came together, rolling up their sleeves to get the job done, and had a lot of fun doing it. Ms. La Verne White, their Director, pitched in as well. When this task was completed, one of the youth yelled, “you can finally see the floor!” Truly this was a great accomplishment that will touch hundreds of children served by Community Based Care.

Students With A Purpose has done and continues to provide other volunteer work in the community. They cleaned up the grounds at The George Marks Elementary School, The chapel of Divine Mercy Church, and The Spring Hill Community Center. They also read stories to children in various day care centers and collect food and make baskets for families in the community that are in need. In addition, the group spends quality time with seniors in the community by just visiting as well as cleaning and mowing their yards. Some of the students speak to younger children about the dangers of drugs. They also volunteered their services as youth counselors for DeLand Art Museum during their Art Summer Camp program.

These students attend 5 different schools in Deland, FL and are directed by Ms. LaVerne White. Recently, the School Board of the Volusia County School District recognized Students With A Purpose, and they were chosen as award winners in the Youth Group Category. They also won the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award for Flagler and Volusia County for Youth. The group has also been recognized by the United Way and Bright House and was awarded for their service to the community in 2005.

Jan Walker

Jan Walker serves as the sponsor of the Danville High School 4-H Club. For the past five years, Walker has encouraged leadership and civic responsibility within the setting of community service. This after-school club continues the membership of twenty-five tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade students. They juggle athletic events and practices with jobs and class work along with family responsibilities. And they keep their promise of service to Walker. Even if they cannot attend the scheduled meeting, the 4-H members bring in projects and reports. They volunteer for events and activities. They share themselves with younger students.

One of their fun activities centers on Halloween. The elementary students enjoy the high school students coming to the classrooms. The 4-H members are divided into small groups that read stories to the elementary students. These deal with the history of Halloween and its adventures. Before they leave the classroom, the 4-H members present the elementary students with “Trick or Treat” bags sponsored by The Optimist Club of Decatur. These bags have reflective tape so that the “little guys” can be seen safely during the dusk hours.

The 4-H Club also salutes the high school teachers. Cards and flowers were presented to teachers as a thank you for the encouragement received. Many of the teachers were surprised when this small remembrance appeared in their classroom. Walker also hosts a Holiday Party at her house. The High school 4-H Club combined their party with the Student Council. Many of these students had been involved in the canned food drive and other activities around the holidays. They enjoyed the holiday spirit, reported on the successful activities, and planned spring events.

More than twenty-five of the 4-H members have participated in county, district and state 4-H events. They have developed leadership skills at Mid-Winter 4-H Teen Retreat. They have also competed in breads, lawn tractor, public speaking, automotive and bicycle at county, district and state levels. They were participants in the Prudential Youth Leadership Institute Class I, II, III and IV. They encouraged younger 4-H members to work hard so that they are eligible for the Danville High School 4-H Club. It is a selective group requiring an adult endorsement.

The Danville High School 4-H Club brings its muscle, as well as its leadership, to hose the Morgan County 4-H Round Up in the spring. An excess of 200 youth participate in eleven different areas of 4-H demonstrations, public speaking, exhibits and outdoor activities. This is held at the Sparkman Civic Center in Hartselle. The Danville High School 4-H Club is the backbone of this event.

Walker is an integral part of the 4-H, but her community work also includes serving at the church, with scouting and with education.

Katherine & Christina Sommers

Animal abuse and neglect are a concern that isn’t addressed everyday so people don’t think about it often. Animal shelters everywhere are filling up to the limit and more and more people are just dumping more and more animals off in the shelters. They need all the help they can get so that is where Katherine and Christina come in.

Their project of raising awareness demonstrates hands-on service that results in building connections with the community. This affects the community and although a community member may not own an animal, they are not isolated. Usually when there is a problem with an animal and they call for help with an animal, the community does not have any resources to help. Katherine and Christina have worked with many kids and adults in spreading the word about the problems the shelters face. They talk with hundreds of people and have made many appearances to discuss this topic. Although the race season to fundraise starts in March, there is another car show and another opportunity to raise money for all the pets in the shelters. These shelters need the sisters’ support to assist in food, money and supplies year round.

The money that is raised and used to buy food, get medical attention, and programs to inform people about the problems the animals face. When they have food and medical help, the animals can live healthy and have the happiness they deserve as living, breathing and feeling animal. People signed Katherine’s racecar for $1 to raise awareness for the shelter. Katherine has been driving a racecar since the age of 8 and has used this skill that she has won 3 championships for a worthy cause. A total of $870 as collected for the racecar signing and in this coming year, Christina will start racing and hopefully use her skill to raise awareness and money to continue to assist with the shelter.

Camp Challenge

The North Carolina Bankers Association membership recognized 11 years ago that a number of deserving middle-school students across our state were not exposed to financial literacy, the essentials of credit, and specialized reading, writing and speaking skills. Additionally, these young people did not have the opportunity to have a summer camp experience that so many other students do. It seemed the perfect match to partner with the state’s 4-H program to bring these elements together, making a difference in the lives of our state’s young people.

Since then, the camp has continued to flourish and was expanded from five sessions to six this year, going from mid-June to early August. The number of campers has grown from around 100 to over 600. We continue to have a positive response from the leaders of the groups who attend camp. There are usually a certain percentage of campers who come back a second time and go through a new curriculum.

This year, we conducted a pre and post survey of the campers that will provide us with solid data that they are benefiting as much as possible from the experience. We also sent their parents a survey to see if their child’s behaviors have changed since attending the camp. We eventually plan to develop a tracking system that will allow us to gauge the progress of the campers throughout high school and give a scholarship to one of the campers who has shown the most growth.

The Association works with its members to sponsor several hundred kids from across the state each year to attend the camp. One the students have been through the camp and learn leadership skills, they take this knowledge back to their school and communities. All of the banks who sponsor campers are placed on an honor roll on the NCBA Web site. They are also recognized with their names on sponsorship boards during many of our meetings. The banks also get the satisfaction of knowing that they are making a difference in a child’s life. First Charter Bank, Charlotte, has made significant donations to the camp’s computer lab, which is now called the First Charter Computer Center. A plaque on the outside of the building dictates this and a picture were placed in our magazine, Carolina Banker. We have several partners in this effort, including North Carolina 4-H, boys and Girls clubs, North Carolina State Treasurer’s Office, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Each partner has also been recognized in our magazine.

For the past six years, several hundred bankers have attended a workday at camp to help get it ready for the next year. This project is unique because it is a state-wide effort among our 144 member banks to sponsor kids from their communities to attend. The camp is in a setting with rich history and the goal is to keep that preservation. It is also unique because so many people are involved, especially during the workday. It is all about teamwork and camaraderie.