180 teens sign up for volunteer event

Students will sort food, paint, read to kids and do outside cleanup for seniors.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A record 180 students from area schools and organizations are scheduled to participate in the fifth annual Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way Youth Day of Caring.
During Youth Day of Caring, which will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, young people will complete service projects at 17 community sites for various agencies and organizations and individuals throughout the community, said JoAnn Stock, director of marketing and resource development for United Way.
Students from Rayen, Hubbard, Struthers, Warren G. Harding, Ursuline, Canfield, and Jackson-Milton high schools, along with youth from New Hope Baptist Church, Delta Sigma Theta, Delta Gems, Youth Leadership Mahoning Valley and the Teen Action Group of the Volunteer Center of the Mahoning Valley, will participate.
Project sites include Second Harvest Food Bank, Potential Development, YMCA, YWCA, Neighborhood Ministries, Boys and Girls Club, Beatitude House, Family Services, First Book, American Red Cross, Children's Museum of the Valley, Youngstown City Scape, Fairview Arts and Outreach Center, Carrington South Rehabilitation Health Care Center, and at the homes of clients of the Volunteer Service to Seniors program.
Projects include sorting food donations, painting, landscaping, washing windows and cars, reading to kids, playing bingo and doing outside cleanup at the homes of area seniors.
Where they'll meet
The students will assemble at 8 a.m. at the Fairview Arts and Outreach Center, 4220 Youngstown-Poland Road, for breakfast and an overview of the day. They will then go to their assigned projects, and meet back at the Fairview Arts and Outreach Center at noon for lunch and to share their experiences and recap the day, Stock said.
She said the Youth Day of Caring activities are designed to increase awareness of United Way and its affiliated agencies and how they work to meet community needs; and the important roles volunteers play in helping to make the Mahoning Valley a better place.
"We are thrilled with the response to this year's event. It's great to see these young people pitch in to help to make a difference in our community. It's amazing how much these students can accomplish in our community in a short period of time. Their volunteer efforts are truly appreciated," Stock said.
alcorn@vindy.com