This fall, participants in the Youth Circle after-school program worked with seniors at Blaine Manor in Hailey and children who were staying at the Hailey shelter provided by the Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
The Council Circle Foundation, a local, nonprofit, youth character-building organization, is the sponsor of the Youth Circle after-school program. This fall, the Youth Circle's after-school program was called "Community Connections Service Projects."
"Community Connections Service Projects" took place in partnership with Blaine Manor and the Advocates. Youth Circle participants engaged in a pen-pal program with residents at Blaine Manor, and worked with the Advocates to collect gift certificates and assemble welcoming packages for children who are staying at the Advocates' shelter.
The Blaine Manor project consisted of the Hailey Elementary School Circle participants' creating heartfelt questions for the men and women who live there.
Youth Circle participants collected gift certificates donated by Domino's Pizza, Bigwood Cinemas, and Baskin and Robbins. Students wrote welcoming letters to all children entering the Advocates' shelter. Following the project, Darrel Harris, the Advocates' children's program coordinator, spoke with Youth Circle participants about domestic violence and how it affects children's lives.
The after-school program focuses on topics such as trust, leadership, peer pressure and diversity.
Youth Circle is offered in five valley schools, free of charge, for grades three through eighth. In addition, the foundation's Council Circle program is available to high school students through Wood River High School's "The Connections Program," which is an in-house program for students who have been suspended from school.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
Penny Eagan and Kris Powers make envelopes for a service project done in partnership with the Advocates.
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