August 2020 Blog
A Busy Summer for YAC!
The Cadillac Area Community Foundation Youth Committee has been working all summer on projects to help students stay busy during this time of uncertainty. Students have been earning hours (10 required) of community service, by volunteering, checking on grandmas and grandpas, and neighbors.
As monthly meetings turn to conference calls and zoom meetings, students are stilling looking for ways they can make a difference during the COVID 19 crisis.
In May during a CAPS food distribution, YAC students gave out over $1500 in items, (basketballs, footballs, color books, word searches, games, puzzles, etc.) bought locally to help kids stay busy and get exercise. Many of the families had a pleasant surprise, as students gave out FREE items, COVID 19 Capsule flier, and how to stay safe fliers. Families were very appreciative of the kindness of the students.
From a $3000 grant the Students awarded to the Up North Arts organization, they volunteered to help pack up art supplies of construction paper, watercolors paints set, fine tip markers, and instructions (just another way to keep students busy) and then dispersed over 200 bags full of art supplies to families on a sunny Saturday morning.
In June the students approved a grant to Feeding America West Michigan for $1000 for Mobile Food Pantry Cadillac Area. Due to COVID 19, the food pantries have seen more than normal activity. They also approved $2500 to Sleep in Heavenly Peace for kid’s beds (which they hope to join them on a build day) and approved New Hope Center $1000 for new mattresses and protective cases. Unfortunately, the shelter has been at capacity all summer.
In July, students assisted setting up CAPS Kids Closet at Central Office, a $1000 grant in December 2019 was awarded to help get the closet up and running. As part of the grant, they wanted to be a part of organizing the closet. Taking all of the safety precautions, students spent an afternoon arranging items by size, putting up shelving, and consolidating items.
This month (August), students met over Zoom to discuss “Masks”! They voted to support CAPS with a 1000 masks. The masks will have the Cadillac Viking and the YAC logo. Their mission is to give every student a mask on the first day of school.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit young people hard, disrupting education, putting their summer jobs at risk, and making their futures uncertain, but they are always looking for amazing initiatives like art projects, food, shelter, clothing, and even masks to change lives.
If you have a student going into the 8th grade and would like additional information about the YAC program, please feel free to contact me at the Foundation, 231-775-9911.
Happy August!
Doreen
