FeedsWorking vacation
YMCA offers ‘winter break’
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Plymouth YMCA Youth Volunteer Corps members pose after raking leaves for a community service project. The group will be back together again during winter break.Instead of playing video games or watching hours of television, Plymouth area youth will have an opportunity to make a difference during their winter vacation.
The Plymouth Family YMCA is sponsoring the Youth Volunteer Corps Winter Break Service. The Youth Volunteer Corps is a group of area high school youths who participate in volunteer projects at soup kitchens, churches, recreation centers and other non-profits in metro Detroit.
The Plymouth Family YMCA is looking to expand the already successful program and incorporate more young volunteers into a day of service over their winter break from school.
“Our goal is to give meaningful, challenging projects for the youth to work on and to build a lifetime commitment to service,” said Jenny Roszel, youth volunteer coordinator for the Plymouth Family YMCA.
According to YMCA officials, the program is structured to allow young volunteers to perform meaningful community service while having fun. Recreation activities are built into the day of service and the students get a chance to talk to other young people who they do not know. Youths do not have to be from Plymouth or Plymouth Township to participate.
Roszel said more than 20 local organizations and non-profits including Focus Hope and Grow and Hope have relied on YMCA youth volunteers in the past and will continue to give the youth opportunities learn the importance of giving back.
“Groups see the bigger picture and want to tie in,” Roszel added.
One of the groups who tied in was the Salvation Army Meadow Lodge in Plymouth. Meadow Lodge called on the group of youth community volunteers to assist in exercise activities for a group of senior citizens.
“The young people brought a lot of energy. They always had smiles on their faces,” said Kim Welton who invited the youths to come to Meadow Lodge.
Welton was impressed with the courteous manner of the YMCA students who came at least three times to the facility. Each time, the volunteers treated the seniors with respect and admiration.
“They were very comfortable in working with the elderly,” Welton said.
The Rev. Dr. Michael Bryan of First Baptist Church in Plymouth calls the experience of serving others one of the best activities available for young people.
“The opportunity to give young people a chance to make a positive contribution in society will give them a better appreciation of their own lives,” said the pastor of First Baptist whose church hosts many of the Plymouth Family YMCA events and trainings.
The Youth Volunteer Corps Winter Break Service will take place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from Dec 27 through Jan. 5. For more information or to register to volunteer, contact the Plymouth Family YMCA at (734) 453-2904.
