IDEAS FOR YOF GRANT - EMILY WILSON

IDEAS FOR YOF GRANT

B Y E M I L Y W I L S O N

After recently submitting our application for the YOF grant, I can be the first to say that it isn ’t a simple project. Preparing for the YOF grant takes time to answer lengthy questions, create a meticulous budget, and most importantly, figure out what initiative would leave the most positive impact on your community.

I knew the decision of what we would do for our project should be a collaborative effort between my officers, so in early January, I gave them the task of finding service initiatives that were important to them. I gave them weeks to think about it and received many ideas. From my webmaster, I got the idea of creating a recycling system around the school.

Very few teachers at Lamar use recycling bins frequently, and students are always throwing paper in the trash. A new system would involve creating recycling stations around campus and having volunteers take them to larger receptacles. Our editor suggested a program to support teachers when they were feeling overwhelmed. The teachers would fill out a Google Form with what they needed, and students could help them out, whether it was reorganizing computer carts or cleaning the classroom. Our treasurer even thought of supporting the local animals in our community by asking our members to volunteer at rescue shelters.

Then we would donate food, toys, and medicine for the pets. The junior class representative had a great idea of finding a local elementary school where we could serve meals to families over the holiday break when students couldn ’t get food from school.

The secretary gave many ideas, from organizing a day to pick up trash in the community, raising money to donate to charity, or painting a school mural. Moi, the senior class representative, thought of making bags filled with basic necessities for those living in homeless shelters and serving them a meal.

The officers came up with quite a few wonderful ideas, but we had to stick with one. After a vote was conducted and logistics were studied, we decided to use the idea created by our junior class rep. Our members are going to volunteer their time during the school day and read books to elementary kids in class. We ’d also donate books that we had purchased with the grant money on the same days.

It wasn ’t easy to come to a conclusion, but I think with this decision, our club will be leaving a positive impact on the community and its students. I also want to thank my officers for creating many great ideas and demonstrating a commitment to Key Club and its ideals. The success of the club wouldn ’t be the same without them.