Teens Serve the Community on Global Youth Service Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2012

For more information, contact:
Lucy Schaich, Assistant Director, City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, Community & Family Resources Dept., 349.3433,schaichl@bloomington.in.gov
Meghan Ray, Youth Planner of Global Youth Service Day, Bloomington High School North student, 929.7626 orraym@bloomington.in.gov
Bet Savich, Director, City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, CFRD, 349.3472, savichb@bloomington.in.gov
David Nosko, Monroe County Youth Council, 369.5199, mcyouthcouncil@gmail.com

Teens Serve the Community on Global Youth Service Day

Bloomington, IN - On April 20, 2012, Global Youth Service Day will be a day of hands-on volunteerism across Bloomington. More than 200 youth from four high schools (North, South, New Tech and The Graduation School) will be involved in service. The volunteers will assemble at 'The Warehouse,' 1525 S. Rogers St., the new youth and family community center.

Students will be working on various service projects throughout the day, all of which focus on sustainability. Some will paint a giant mural at The Warehouse along the wall facing the B-Line Trail. Others will prepare a bed for a rain garden at the Community Kitchen, prepare bikes at Bloomington Bicycle Project-2, volunteer in the garden at the WonderLab Museum, remove invasive plants at RCA Park and prepare for Memorial Day at Rose Hill Cemetery. In addition, there will also be an extensive B-Line Trail cleanup, rain barrel assembly and community gardens cleanup at Butler Park.

"It's been an honor to help the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network plan Global Youth Service Day," said Meghan Ray, Bloomington High School North Senior. "I believe that this day will be truly valuable to our community. I have never seen my friends at North so excited to volunteer. I hope this enthusiasm grows throughout the year! The projects will be a ton of fun and the students will hardly notice they are volunteering. The mural, my personal favorite project, will serve as a reminder throughout the year of our hard work. I can't wait to see the progress each year as this service day grows."

Primary partners are the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network and the Monroe County Youth Council.

Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world. An estimated 2 million youth in more than 75 countries on six continents are expected to lead and participate in service projects.

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