I
chose to volunteer at Teen Reach, located here in Charleston, IL. Teen Reach is a community service for youth between the
ages of 11-17. It is an after school program that allows the youth to
participate in activities that provide positive choices, reduce at-risk
behavior, and improve future success. The program provides homework help,
education on risky behavior, recreational sports, and cultural and art activities.
All services are free including transportation from school and home.
The services that the Teen Reach program provides the youth
reflect many of the concepts covered in FCS 4840 such as housing, families and
children in poverty, and disadvantage women. This program helps disadvantaged single
mothers by providing: affordable care, an after school meal, transportation, guidance,
and help with homework, for their children. It is a place that children living
in poverty can go to get: one on one help with homework, attention, guidance,
food, and make friends. It allows children living in poverty to go somewhere
where they can take their mind off their home situation and just have fun. This
program helps all types of families, and the environment by providing a safe
structured program for youth.
By networking with Teen Reach I not only gained the
experience of working and helping with the youth, but worked with the
professionals who run the program and met other students who volunteer there
regularly. The day after I volunteered at Teen Reach I had to submit my student
teaching application; I had to list the volunteering I have done since I have
been in college, and I was able to write about my experience at Teen Reach. This
looks good on my application, because I am a CTE major with a concentration in
FCS.
The Teen Reach program has an extremely positive effect on
the community. Teen Reach goes above and beyond helping the youth and their
families by providing them with many
helpful services. The program also works to make the
community a better place by working with the youth to make positive choices,
reduce bad behavioral decisions, and improve future.
My overall volunteer experience went very well; I played
with the children and helped them with their homework. I felt very welcomed and
comfortable while volunteering at Teen Reach, and plan to volunteer their
regularly. If you would like more information about Teen Reach you can use the
following contact information.
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