Youth
Media Bureau
Albion
VolunTEENS program gives area youth opportunity to give
back to community
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By
BRITTANY T.
Community Partners for Albion's Youth
Youth Media Bureau
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Who
knew volunteering could be so much fun?
Recently I sat down and interviewed Angie Cole, an AmeriCorps
Fellow who works at the Albion Volunteer Service Organization.
Among Cole's duties is overseeing the AVSO's VolunTEENS program.
The program has around 39-40 teens signed up and several of those
show up for meetings and activities on a regular basis.
" The VolunTEENS are involved in different areas of the community and different
events, such as Walk For Warmth, working with the Albion Interfaith Ministries,
cleaning parks and more," said Cole.
The group meets at 1 p.m., every second Saturday of the month,
at the Albion Volunteer Service Organization office, 203 S. Superior
St., Albion.
While some teenagers may the responsibility that goes along with
belonging to a group such as the VolunTEENS, most said Cole get
into the program and find a lot they like about it.
"In the VolunTEENS," said Cole, "members stay in touch with
the program through their personal interests. Some teens, if they already have
jobs elsewhere, may feel it would be a waste of their time. And some teens don't
want to be involved because they may have low self esteem or other problems.
All of the teens I work with want a job. If they really didn't care, they wouldn't
be here."
Cole adds it's been very interesting having to earn the teens
respect. "I had to earn it in order for the kids to start
talking to me and I love watching their growth as they learn
things they have never known how to do."
AVSO Director, Alfredia Dysart Drake, not only oversees the AVSO,
her sons, Garrett and Gavin are members of the VolunTEENS.
" When I first came here I didn't feel connected to Albion," said
Drake. "I worked somewhere else and when I came home I often didn't know
what was going on around here. Since working at the AVSO I have been very busy
learning and doing new things. There is a lot that goes on in Albion."
For Drake, having her sons belong to VolunTEENS is important.
" I always encourage them to help others, as well as themselves and to give
back to the community," she said.
The Albion
Volunteer Service Organization has been around since about
1988. Its workers love their jobs and are always willing to help
youth. The AVSO and the VolunTEENS program are busy helping Albion's
kids stay out of trouble and do the right thing.
To join
the AVSO VolunTEENS, contact Cole at 629-5574.
Find
out more about VolunTEENS
Find
out more about Angie Cole and America's
Promise.
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to the Youth Media Bureau Home Page.
