Program provides teens with chance to serve community

A Columbia County nonprofit agency has created a community service program meant to involve teens with their communities.

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The Columbia County Foundation for Children is seeking high-school age volunteers for a minimum of 10 hours of service during the summer at the foundation's Children's Resource Center on Columbia Road in Appling.

"I think students like to become involved if they know where to go, and a lot of kids don't know where to go," said Michel Young, a member of the foundation's board of directors and a retired high school guidance counselor. "If they are not be involved with sports, or their church youth group, or clubs at school, they may just not know where to go."

The foundation is a nonprofit agency that provides donated clothing free of charge to those referred to it by the Department of Family and Children's Services, schools and churches. The Children's Resource Center offers discount prices on household items, toys, books and used clothing.

Young said the teen volunteers are needed for tasks such as unloading, sorting and hanging donations. They are needed for at least an hour a week from June 3 through Aug. 8. Volunteers performing 20, 30 and 40 volunteer hours will receive special recognition from the foundation, Young said.

"It is important to give back to your community, whatever it is," she said. "You take from your community and it is an opportunity to give back to your community."

Through her longtime involvement with Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Program, which requires community service, Young said many teens volunteered at the Resource Center during the school year.

"We do love to have additional volunteers," Young said. "It is kind of fun. When a couple of kids show up it, kind of livens the place up a little bit. And the kids, when they came, seem to have a good time."

The experience provides teens a broader view of the world and their communities, but also looks great on scholarship and college applications, Young said.

The Resource Center is open from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday; 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the first Saturday of each month.

Interested teens should send an e-mail with the subject Summer Community Service Program to CCFFC@comcast.net. They also can call the Resource Center on Tuesdays at (706) 541-2849 or mail their contact information, including name, address, phone number, school and grade level, to Summer Community Service Program, Columbia County Foundation for Children, 7009 Town Center Blvd., Evans, GA 30809.