Newark Valley Y.E.S. Program students helping out at Stray Haven Animal Shelter in Waverly.
Newark Valley Y.E.S. Program students helping out at Stray Haven Animal Shelter in Waverly.
Tioga County Hawks youth Lacrosse players’ complete beautification projects at the Town of Owego’s Hickories Park.
Bob Bassett and Phyllis Smith take a break from Make A Difference Day Rake-A-Thon activities at the Village of Owego Evergreen Cemetery.
Jane Goodall reportedly once stated, ” Every person makes a difference. It is for each of us to decide what that difference will be.” Hundreds of youth in Tioga County are deciding that they want to make things better everywhere they can – in parks, public spaces, neighborhoods, and in the quality of life of animals and citizens of all ages.
Through volunteer service projects, elementary, middle school, and high school age students are offering their time and talents with adult guidance to do good works. Every year the Owego based Charles H. Bassett Youth Foundation provides small grants and other support to make it possible for youth to engage in community service activities.
This year grants were made to the fifth grade Apalachin Elementary Helping Hands Club to do a range of projects including making birthday and holiday cards for Meals on Wheels residents, to the Richford Summer Youth Program to do volunteer activities such as making dog biscuits for the SPCA, to Catholic Social Services Y.E.S. Program to engage Newark Valley High School students in Make a Difference Day activities such as visiting Stray Haven’s Animal Shelter to volunteer to work with the animals, and to the Tioga County Hawks Youth Lacrosse Program through the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club to get young lacrosse players and their families out in the parks and public spaces making beautification improvements.
These examples and many more demonstrate the importance of encouraging our local youth to volunteer, lead, and engage in civic activities as often as they can. It builds their character, their citizenship and leadership skills, their relationships, their confidence and improves their community. Special thanks to Sondra Siegfried, Rebecca Randall, Kristine Maslin, January Pratt, Jess and Doug Barnes, Katie Tracy, Jennifer Kurkoski and other parents, teachers, and adult mentors for encouraging young people to demonstrate their leadership by serving the community.
For more information on youth volunteer service and special days and activities emphasizing community service contact Friends of the CHB Youth Foundation at the Bassett Ah-Wa-Ga Center in Owego, on Facebook or email chbyouthfoundation37@gmail.com.
