Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Area youth take on projects for nonprofit social service agencies.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way is seeking volunteers for its fifth annual Youth Day of Caring on April 29.
During the local Youth Day for Caring, done in conjunction with National Youth Service Day on April 22 and 23, student groups from area high schools, Scout troops and church youth groups take on tasks, odd jobs and other activities for area nonprofit social service agencies.
Projects may consist of painting, cleaning, outdoor cleanup, office work and sorting food donations, said JoAnn Stock, the United Way's director of marketing and resource development.
Interested student groups should contact the United Way office at (330) 746-8494 or check its Web site www.ymvunitedway.org. The registration deadline is April 7.
Participants will assemble at 8 a.m. at the Boardman YMCA, 45 McClurg Road, for breakfast and an overview of the day. Then, they will go to their assigned locations to complete their projects, after which they will meet back at the YMCA at noon for lunch, to share their experiences and recap the day, Stock said.
Increase awareness
Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way Youth Service Day of Caring activities are designed to increase awareness of the United Way and its affiliated agencies and how they work to meet community needs, and highlight the important roles volunteers play in helping to make the Mahoning Valley a better place, Stock said.
"It's great to see these young people pitch in to help to make a difference in our community, and it's amazing to see how much they can accomplish in a relatively short period of time," Stock said. "Their efforts are truly appreciated."
National Youth Service Day is an acknowledgment of the energy, effort and volunteer service that many young people give to their schools, churches and communities all year.
It aims to mobilize youth to identify and address the needs of their communities through service, recruit the next generation of volunteers and educate the public about the year-round contributions of young people as community leaders, Stock said.
National Youth Service Day is hosted by Youth Service America, in partnership with the National Youth Leadership Council, Parade Magazine and more than 60 national partners.