Community service projects will engage Mahoning teens

YOUNGSTOWN

This summer Mahoning Valley youths will get a chance to make a difference in the community with gardening, construction, disaster preparedness and event staffing projects with the Youth Volunteer Corps’ Summer of Service program.

HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley and seven local nonprofit organizations have teamed up to offer teens engaging community service projects to expose them to the nonprofit world, the value of the community and various ways to volunteer.

Slots are available for youth volunteers and adult team leaders. Youths and adults must attend an orientation before beginning projects.

The first project was June 16 at Fellows Riverside Gardens, where volunteers prepared beds and planted flowers with Mill Creek Park staff.

Next on the agenda, volunteers will work with Habitat for Humanity from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday to put the final touches on new homes.

Volunteers will help finalize an exhibit installation at Oh WOW! Children’s Center of Science and Technology from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 14, 15 and 16.

HandsOn will host a disaster preparedness project from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 28 and 29. Volunteers will put together disaster kits and learn the basics of preparing for a disaster.

Volunteers will staff the Senior Fair picnic hosted by the Sheriff’s Services Program from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 6. They also will staff Neighborhood Ministries’ Children’s Fair from 9 a.m. to1 p.m. Aug. 22, and from 11:45 to 2:45 Aug. 23.

The details for Grow Youngstown’s project are yet to be announced.

HandsOn strives to equip, inspire and activate volunteers to be leaders and problem solvers on their own, creating new opportunities to bring others into service.

For more information call Gretchen Brown at 330-782-5877.