Local kids give back today during 'Day of Caring'

YOUNGSTOWN

More than 100 area young people crowded into the downtown YMCA. They fortified themselves with fruit and cereal, collected “Live United” T-shirts and then scattered to various nonprofit organizations.

The eighth- to 12th-graders were taking part in United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s 10th annual Youth Day of Caring on Saturday.

“We really want to try to get younger people involved with us,” said Tara Mady, United Way’s director of marketing and communications.

Participating gives students an understanding of what volunteering is, and they learn about the organizations they help, Mady said.

“They’re going to learn what that organization does in the community,” she said. “What services they provide, how they help people in the community and then, ultimately, how their work [Saturday] is helping them.”

Many of the student volunteers didn’t know what they’d be doing when they arrived for the day of helping.

Joey Corradi, 16, of Austintown, said that was OK with him.

“I like to help out with the community, because it’s always a nice thing to do,” he said.

As a member of the Youngstown Connection, Corradi helped paint and wash windows and walls for the Burdman Group on Broadway Avenue.

For the complete story, read Sunday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.