Wanted: Youth volunteers
BY LESLIE RICHARDSON STAFF WRITER
03/03/2008
GORDON — Wanted: A few young
men and women for community service.
With April designated as National Youth Service
Month, Gordon Mayor Nick Troutman has a plan to engage the borough’s
youth in what he calls a “Service-In-Community” partnership
that encourages community participation and volunteerism.
Others are undertaking similar efforts.
“Today, I am heralding volunteerism and community
service to our young people,” Troutman said. “By actively
involving, empowering and engaging Gordon’s youth in community
action, we will change people’s lives for the better and significantly
enhance the quality of life in our own community.”
Troutman will begin the Service-In-Community movement
by outlining creative community service initiatives, such as community
watch groups, neighborhood cleanup, summer reading or baby- sitting
programs and food collection.
“Our youth represent a renewed spirit of civic
engagement. As elected officials, it should be our top priority to
foster this active participation, not only in Gordon, but all over
Schuylkill County,” Troutman said.
Patty Rader, executive director of the umbrella revitalization
group Upper Schuylkill Downtowns, has similar goals in mind for 2008.
Rader and the six boroughs involved in Upper Schuylkill
— Ashland, Frackville, Girardville, Mahanoy City, Ringtown and
Shenandoah — will develop plans that will involve the area youth
in planning, promoting and designing the downtown revitalization efforts.
“By taking an active role in the future of their
communities, the young people will have a stake in the development,”
Rader said. “They will have a say in what happens in the future
of these communities and develop relationships that may lead to business
opportunities or may help with college applications.”
The Hamburg Area School District in Berks County is
working with community leaders and the borough’s Our Town Foundation
to develop volunteer opportunities for its students to meet their
community service requirements.
“Being involved with the community organizations
will teach them what the organizations do while developing a bond
between the student and the community,” said Chris Spohn, Hamburg
Area High School principal.
“Gordon’s youth are immensely talented and
when they volunteer their time, there is no limit to what great things
can be achieved,” Troutman said.
According to Troutman, awards will be presented in the
fall to those who participate in the partnership.
The Service-In-Community partnership is part of the
mayor’s community restoration project, promoting the mission
to preserve the character, improve the aesthetic values, protect the
interests of its citizen, and to maintain Gordon’s reputation
of being a pleasant place to live, work, and play.
In January, Troutman initiated a crackdown on blight,
starting with fines for owners of abandoned vehicles parked on private
and public property in the borough.
Service program, awards
What: Service-in-Community partnership
involving volunteer and community service projects for the youth of
Gordon, pushed by Mayor Nick Troutman.
Who: Community residents 13 to 18
Deadline to register: March 31
Contact: To enroll, e-mail gordonmayor@hotmail.com
The program will include awards for those who participate in the partnership,
including:
The Mayor's Youth Service Award for the person with the most
community service hours
The Mayor's Team Service Award for the group with the most
service hours
The Mayor's Creating Community Change (TriC) Award, voted on
by borough residents regarding a community service project that has
the most significant impact on Gordon's quality of life.
© The REPUBLICAN & Herald
2008
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