April 12-18 is National Volunteer Week. In the spirit of the week, The Huron County Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) recently planned and participated in a service project that connected some of our area youth and senior populations. The YAC was approached by Steve Jais of the Human Development Commission (HDC) who brought National Volunteer Week to their attention. YAC Advisor, Emily Polega said “When Steve from HDC approached us with the idea of participating in National Volunteer Week, the YAC was immediately committed to the idea of finding a way to give some of their time and efforts back to our community.” The YAC thought this would be a great opportunity to connect different generations living in our community. Elementary students from Bad Axe, Caseville, Harbor Beach, EPBP Lakers, North Huron, Owendale-Gagetown and Ubly created spring art projects to share with residents at some of the local long-term care facilities in the area. The YAC students then delivered the projects to residents at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe, Country Gardens in Pigeon, and Lakeview Extended Care Facility in Harbor Beach throughout National Volunteer Week. The students also took the opportunity to interact with the residents, chatting and playing games with them. YAC Advisor Emily Polega said “This was a fantastic opportunity for our YAC students to connect with different generations of people in our community. I was very impressed with our group’s ability to brainstorm, plan and execute this idea for National Volunteer Week. The residents that we were able to visit seemed delighted to have us as their guests, and it was wonderful to see our youth giving back to our community in this way.” The YAC would like to extend its thanks to HDC for encouraging them to participate in National Volunteer Week, all of the teachers who helped make this project happen, including Mrs. Schaefer, Mrs. Fischer, Mrs. Mayes, Mrs. Collier, Mrs. Brining, Mrs. Klee, Mrs. Rothe, and Mrs. Whitting, and to the long-term care facilities and residents for having us as their guests. The YAC members are already looking forward to participating in National Volunteer Week again next year.

Students from North Huron and Bad Axe deliver spring pictures, drawn by elementary students, to the residents of Courtney Manor.