The Volunteer Center of Erie County                                                                                      Youth Involvement Program

The Youth Involvement Program is designed to build self-esteem and a sense of community in the youth of our community by helping them find volunteer opportunities. 

Components of the Youth Involvement Program include:

Family or Individual volunteer Opportunities

Families or youth can contact our office to speak to one of the staff about volunteer opportunities that would work for them. Families  and    youth are encouraged to participate in one of our national days of service- Martin Luther King Day, Make A Difference Day and Family Volunteer Day.

Service Connections Tours

A Service Connections Tour is an informative, educational tour of Erie County agencies that not only teaches students the needs of the community, but introduces them to the solutions the community provides for those needs.  This tour is offered to students from 4th grade up to 12th grade and can be for a half day or full day including lunch.

Kids Care Clubs

The Volunteer Center would like to thank our 2011-2012 sponsors of Kids Care Clubs-

Kids Care Clubs provide youth with meaningful, hands-on volunteer opportunities to help others in the community.  The volunteer opportunities are directly connected to academic content standards/learning goals.  They help students recognize the value and power in their own lives and realize their actions make a difference. Most of the clubs are school-based, and occur during the school day.  In the2011-2012 school year, there are Clubs at Meadowlawn, at Furry, at Briar, at Osborne elementary, at Adams Jr. High, at Perkins High School, at Margaretta Elementary, 1 at the Detention Center, at Kiddie Korrall, at Townsend School,  at St. Mary’s Elementary, at Woodlands Elementary, at McCormick School and Huron High School. 

• How do Kids Care Clubs work?
  The Youth Director of The Volunteer Center sends a monthly email newsletter to each Kids Care Club. The newsletter outlines community needs that would benefit the Volunteer Center.  Each Club selects the service they would be interested in achieving. 
   

• Number of those served?
  Kids Care Clubs served 3,725 Erie County residents From September to December 2010.
   

• Examples of what Kids Care Clubs have done in the first half of the 2011-2012 school year?
       * Held birthday parties for nursing home residents who might not otherwise have any family in the area to celebrate.
       * Recognized local safety forces in honor of September 11th.
       *One Club collected 20 Halloween costumes  for the children residing at Crossroads Homeless shelter.              
       *Kids Care Clubs promoted a county-wide food drive. One Club created two 30-second commercials promoting the drive. 
        *Kids Clubs held food drives at their schools to support the Erie County Neighbor Helping Neighbor Food Drive.
        *Kids Care Club began a cereal drive at their school and collected 500 boxes of cereal.
        *Kids Clubs raised $1790 for United Way of Erie County by holding a penny drive.
         *Kids Care Clubs became long-term pen pals with nursing home residents. 
       

• Who Can Participate?
  The Program is designed for public or private school classrooms in Erie County, Ohio.

• What Is The Cost?
  There is no cost to participate in the Kids Care Club Program.  All supplies/costs are incurred by The Volunteer Center at no expense to teachers or students. There is currently a waiting list of classrooms wanting to be clubs. To be considered as a club, please contact The Volunteer Center at 419-627-0074.  The cost to run a club for one year is $500.00. The Volunteer Center is currently looking for additional sponsors to meet this need.
   

• How Much Time Does This Take?
  Projects are completed during school hours and can be done whenever it is convenient for the teacher and their students.   One class at a time is ideal, but two classrooms may be scheduled together if needed.  All completed projects are donated to local Erie County agencies that serve the community.

Questions about our youth programs?

Call Youth Director, at (419)627-0074 to schedule a classroom project or field trip as soon as possible.

 

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