Brandon Twp.-They came. They saw. They volunteered.
At 7 p.m, April 7, 112 school-age volunteers from the area will be honored during the 18th Annual Youth Recognition Awards Night at Brandon Middle School. The honorees volunteered their time to various causes in the past year.
‘We try to make it a very special night,? said Linda Owen, co-chairperson of the event which is sponsored by Brandon-Groveland Youth Assistance. ‘It’s a great thing to see these kids walking to get their certificates and their parents? faces beaming, too.?
Andrea Roberts, a freshman at Brandon High School, did volunteer work with St. Anne Catholic Church’s youth group, including food sorting at the Pontiac Food Banks as well as for OCEF (Ortonville Community Emergency Fund); the Cystic Fibrosis Bowlathon; and Rebuilding Together (formerly Christmas in April), during which she raked leaves and did other yard work for elderly homeowners.
‘I want to help people,? Roberts said. ‘It’s fun.?
Tara Bartle worked with Roberts on Rebuilding Together and was nominated for her service with that program, as well as her work at foster care homes and for O.A.T.S. (Offering Alternative Therapy with Smiles), helping disabled children ride horses. Bartle plans to continue volunteering.
Sue Hock, junior youth group coordinator, said a lot of the kids nominated for youth recognition awards worked for the Rebuilding Together program as well as OCEF. Several were also involved in the 24-hour Fast for Famine, in which they went without food for a day and raised money for WorldVision. Some volunteer every month to go to group homes, playing games and doing crafts with seniors.
‘They’re doing a great job,? Hock said. ‘It’s very enlightening to see the teens involved in giving their time. Adults should be aware that there are good kids out there instead of just seeing the problems.?
Fran Runnells, youth services director at the Brandon Township Library, nominated 40 students in the Helping Hands youth volunteer group.
The kids have helped clean up and set up for programs, prepared story time materials, dusted the shelves and put books in order in the children’s section. The volunteer book she has continues to grow.
Runnells herself was once a young volunteer at the old library. As a 5-year-old, she would put 10 picture books away per day.
‘The librarians were patient with me and as I grew older I knew where all the library books went,? said Runnells, who received her first paycheck from the library May 1, 1974. ‘I wouldn’t have such a great career today if it hadn’t been for those librarians letting me help and taking the time with me. You never know when there is a budding librarian.?
Some of the library volunteers work 10 hours per week and some work two hours per week, but Runnels said all are needed.
‘Volunteer work gives me a warm feeling inside and it’s nice to give back to the community because the community is there behnd me if I need help,? said Jamila Richardson, who volunteered with members of the Brandon Student Council to do roadside clean up and has also done several other volunteer projects, including food sorts. ‘To give back is just a little part of my appreciation. It feels really great to be recognized. It makes me want to do more.?
In addition to volunteering for seniors, the disabled and the needy, several kids also volunteered for the animals? at the Humane Society, for animal shelters or finding foster homes for dogs and cats through Res Q 4 Paws.
‘We’d like to encourage every kid to volunteer,? Owen said. ‘I feel there are a lot of kids who do special things that have not been recognized. Hopefully, they will be. We’d love to see them.?