CAPTION: The Chillicothe Cares Youth Group completed its first volunteer project, a Stream Team project, on Aug. 23, at the Blackwell Branch stream, just south of the animal shelter. The young volunteers removed approximately 1,500 pounds of old appliances, including a dryer, a discarded lawnmower, microwaves, radiators and various car parts including a couple of seats from a car. There were also old carpets and antenna wire that embedded into the stream bank and could have proved disastrous for wildlife. The group also removed a toilet.

Submitted Photo / C-T

Three Chillicothe women used what they learned in a Green Hills Community Action Agency Step Up to Leadership program to benefit the youth of their community. Tawyna Jones, Judith Major and Linda Sowders graduated from the 12-week program in February, and joined forces to apply for a $750 mini-grant through the program to start a community service that they are passionate about and ties back to the Green Hills Community Action Agency’s mission of building strong families and communities.

The women were aware of the need for activities for disadvantaged youth in the Chillicothe area and put together a plan to start a volunteer group for youth ages 11 to 18 called “Chillicothe Cares Youth Group.” The group works with junior high and high school age youth. The Y-Pal program, conducted by the YMCA, ends involvement with youth at the age of 14. Although the initial target group was youth involved in the juvenile system or needing to do community service, they decided to open it up to all youth. “We originally called it the At-Risk Volunteer Youth Group, but decided that all youth are potentially at risk,” Jones said.

During an informational meeting Aug. 7 at the Chillicothe YMCA, it was pointed out that youth experts have long believed that the act of serving others can build confidence, a sense of responsibility and social connectedness that is beneficial to the young volunteer and the larger community. Disadvantaged youth volunteers are almost 40 percent more likely to believe that they can make some difference or a great deal of difference in their community; nearly 50 percent more likely to say they are very likely to graduate from a four-year college; twice as likely to discuss politics with their parents, other adults, or friends; and three to five times more likely to say they are very likely to volunteer in the next year, according to information provided during the meeting.

The group’s goal is to have 20 youth participating. Although participation is minimal at this time, the group has volunteer projects lined up and one such project has been successfully completed. The Chillicothe Cares Youth Group completed its first volunteer project, a Stream Team project, on Aug. 23, 2008 at the Blackwell Branch stream, just south of the animal shelter. Greg Pitchford of the Missouri Department of Conservation came out to the site, to teach the group about water monitoring, and to take samples of the stream. Despite heavy littering in the immediate area surrounding and under the bridge site, Pitchford reported the water quality was good. The young volunteers removed approximately 1,500 pounds of old appliances, including a dryer, a discarded lawnmower, microwaves, radiators and various car parts including a couple of seats from a car. There were also old carpets and antenna wire that was embedded into the stream bank and could have proved disastrous for wildlife. The group also removed a toilet. “Our group worked very hard to clean up the stream while managing to have some fun,” said Jones.

Jones expressed her thanks to those who helped accomplish the project: Genie Amen-Ewing, advisor for the Chillicothe Cares Youth Group, the Grand River Area Family YMCA for the use of the facility, Waste Corp of Missouri, which donated the use of a large dumpster, Eva Danner and Midwest Gloves, which donated gloves that were used during the cleanup of the Blackwell Branch stream and will be used in future projects. “The Chillicothe Cares Youth Group looks forward to being an active volunteer group for the Chillicothe community,” Jones said.

Members of the Chillicothe Cares youth group, Stream Team No. 3556 are: Tawnya Jones, Judith Major, Linda Sowders, Laura Major Garrett Major, Hayden Major, Elijah Sowders, Darnel Walker, Tre’ Walker, Sasha Campos, Jaden Stuart, Joey Anderson, Quincy Johnson, Desmond Huff, David Gordon, and Mary Ann Slattery. The Blackwell Branch stream project was the first litter pickup in the county done for the Stream Team project for Department of Conservation.

Step Up to Leadership classes in Chillicothe were taught by Sherri Wohlgemuth, GHCAA Chillicothe Service Center director, and Genie Amen-Ewing, YMCA/2000. The program is designed to give participants the knowledge and confidence to become community-oriented citizens. For more information about the program, call Wohlgemuth at (660) 646-3379.