United Way Youth Day of Caring launched

May. 08, 2009

That’s how student and adult organizers are summing up the United Way Youth Day of Caring launched today at Moncton’s Beaverbrook School.

Based on the annual Day of Caring coordinated by the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick Region, the United Way Youth Day of Caring is a project of the non-profit organization’s Youth Relations Council, supported by its Youth First Committee.

During today’s United Way Youth Day of Caring, about 25 students from Harrison Trimble High School in Moncton, along with a group from Beaverbrook School and the Moncton Alternative Education Centre, planted flowers and improved gravel paths in the school’s yard.

“We were able to connect students from Harrison Trimble with other students and support a great initiative – the Beaverbrook Beautiful Project – already started by one of our local Community Schools.”” said Paul Toner, Early Childhood, Middle Years and Youth Coordinator at the local United Way. “Our Community Anthem refers to the fact that everyone can offer help. The fantastic work of all involved today demonstrated that extremely well.”

The Beaverbrook Beautiful Project was launched April 2 thanks in large part to a committee of active parents and students, supported by District 2 Community Schools’ staff.

“We were thrilled to help support parents and students taking action to show pride in their school and the great work here today proves what we can accomplish when a community works toward a common goal,” said Dave Wheaton, District 2 Community Schools’ School-Based Coordinator, also a member of United Way’s Youth First Committee.

The United Way Youth Day of Caring was also made possible through generous support from a number of businesses and individuals, including materials for the project and food for volunteers.

Alex Gautreau, a member of United Way’s Youth Relations Council who took part in today’s Youth Day of Caring, says students felt good about their involvement in the first-ever event.

“I think this was an exciting way for young people to show they care and that they have something to offer, while still having fun!” Gautreau said.

She looks forward to sharing details of the experience with other young people and adults, and hopes the initiative will involve even more students next year.

Paul Toner said he’s confident Youth Day of Caring 2010 will grow to other schools and likely other school districts as well.

“Our youth are eager to be active members of our community and really keen to make a difference,” said Toner.

Community projects scheduled today for students from Tantramar Regional High School and Marshview Middle School in Sackville were postponed until a later date as the school and community responded to a recent accident.

The United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern NB Region is a local, non-profit charitable organization that partners with and offers support to front-line human care and social services programs and services that truly make a difference in our community.

For more information, contact Cathy Donaldson, Communications Coordinator, United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick Region, at 858-8600 Ext. 64.

Backgrounder

United Way Youth Relations Council: * This growing council is the youth component of United Way’s Youth First Committee and includes representatives from local Boys and Girls Clubs, the YMCA Leadership Group, the Father J. Angus MacDonald Centre, the Dieppe Youth Advisory Council and the Moncton Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council.

United Way Youth First Committee:* The Youth First Committee of the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick promotes and support positive youth development through the integration of the 40 Developmental Assets® – the “good stuff” young people need to grow up healthy, make positive choices and be resilient in tough circumstances. The Youth First Committee is made up of adult representatives from a growing number of organizations across sectors.

United Way’s annual Day of Caring: On Friday, June 12, United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick Region will host its 5th annual Day of Caring, during which about 300 corporate volunteers from across the region will work on a wide variety of meaningful, hands-on projects in our region.

Community Schools: A Community School fosters relationships that transform a traditional school into a centre of opportunity for children, youth, families and communities. When a community school is established, parents, businesses and community members work in partnership with educators to support schools as centers of learning for their communities by leveraging the physical, intellectual and cultural resources in the community around them. A community school acts to strengthen the sense of community by serving as a hub of community activity and development. School District 2 schools have been working in partnership with community groups for many years. To become a “designated” Community School, schools undergo an application process and create a vision for development which is submitted to the Department of Education. The formal designation is made by the Minister of Education