Wenyell McCray- Teen Reach

1.    Where the student volunteered their time? 

I volunteered at Teen Reach

2.    How the service activity reflected concepts learned in the current FCS course (FCS 4840), and/or other FCS courses? 

This service related to FCS because of many reason, some of the children came from families who live below the poverty line, some teens had mental issues, and some are victims of sexual assault. These teens face issues that we as future Family and Consumer Sciences professionals or FCS professionals work to find solutions to. These children and there families are the reason a lot of us made the decision that we did to make this our major.

3.    How the student networked with other professionals while participating in the activity and what they GAINED from that networking?

  While volunteering at this place I networked with the coordinators of Teen Reach, and one thing I learned was that a lot of these children come to this program wounded. So the best thing that could be done is to reassure them that you are not going to leave them and that they can freely and respectfully express themselves.  

4.    The potential effect the service activity and/or the service organization can have (or does have) on the community? This organization gives teens a place to come, have fun, eat, play games and be in a safe environment.

5.    A general reflection on the assignment (e.g., reactions, feelings, life lessons)

Volunteering at teen reach was an amazing experience, it made me really grateful for the things that I have. A lot of these children are not being taught or raised currently, and they need some type of positive guidance. This form of service encourages me to keep going to school so that I can make the world a better place. I defiantly would love to continue volunteering at Teen Reach.

Ellen Vore- Teen Reach

1. I volunteered my time at the Charleston Teen Reach Center. I spent time with “at risk kids”. This means they come from homes where their parents aren’t around a lot, or they may be in danger of dropping out of school. Basically they don’t come from very stable environments and this facility is meant to be a constant, unchanging, stable environment where they can come and relax.
2. These kids are at risk of going down a life path that leads to many of the disadvantages that we have discussed in class. If they drop out of school they will be more likely to live in poverty and have relationships that are not as stable. By coming to the Charleston teen reach, they have positive role models who encourage them to keep on the path that will lead them to greater success in life.
3. I plan on becoming a teacher, and in that profession I will be working with kids exactly like the ones that take advantage of this facility. In working there I gained some insight into how the facility runs, how it benefits the kids, and I made a connection with the director of the facility. When I get in to the professional world, I will be able to go back and contact the director, I will be able to use him as a resource for helping my disadvantaged kids or he may be able to help me find someone else who can work with me to improve my kid’s lives.
4. The potential effect that this facility has on the local community is that in helping these teens stay on a good path, they will be able to gain a higher quality life for themselves. When they become responsible adults who can take care of themselves and contribute to the community, they can change it for the better even if it is in small ways. By being a positive force and support instead of someone who needs the support of the community, they may be able to help others who were once where they were.
5. I feel that this assignment was good for us to do. It got us out into the field of where we will be spending our professional lives. It felt good to help others and know that we are making a difference in someone else’s life. It showed me how just one place like Charleston Teen Reach can make such a difference in the community.

Megan Dignan
4/23/13
FCS 4840
Link
Dr. Moyer

Project Link


1. I volunteered at Teen Reach in Charleston, IL.

2. The service activity definitely reflected the concepts of Disadvantaged Families. The children/teens at Teen Reach come from lower income families, and most of them have social,emotional and learning issues. Being sensitive to other people’s families and circumstances is a huge part of FCS and family services. The children at Teen Reach were happy to have the volunteers there and we could all see that Teen Reach  allows them to feel safe and be a care-free.

3. At Teen Reach I spoke to fellow students and the staff in charge. It was really interesting to hear from the staff, because they spend so much time with the children.  I was able to hear about the families Teen Reach helps and the different activities the staff does during the school year and summer months. I gained an inside look into Teen Reach and the children’s lives. The staff told us how they make sure everyone gets a snack and helps the kids do homework. They also explained to me how they use their van to pick up the kids and drop them off when the day is over. It was a really eye-opening experience.

4. I believe Teen Reach is a vital part of the Charleston community. They provide an after school program for kids who need a place to go between 3 and 6 p.m. They help the kids with homework and provide a snack for them. They have arts and crafts, sports equipment, a TV room, a computer room and a study room for the children to use. They also provide transportation for children who need it. Teen Reach is a safe heaven for children who have emotional, social, or physical issues and may not have all the support they need at home. Teen Reach has the potential to change young peoples lives! I believe they bring a positive vibe to the community and encourage families to obtain their services. These kids get opportunities to do well in school and make some friends. This will help boost their confidence and that will lead to a better future for them and their families.

5. I really enjoyed doing this assignment. I think Teen Reach was an eye opener for me personally, because I got to learn about a group of youth in the community on a personal level. A lot of the kids were in middle school and they asked me a lot of questions about myself. They were interested in where I was from and if I liked going to college. I think that I will take what I learned at Teen Reach, and this class, and apply it to my life. We never know what is going on in someone's life, so we should never be quick to judge someone. I think that is important for everyone to follow, but being an FCS professional it is vital I do that. This assignment made me think about the way I react to other people and I think I will continue to live that way from now on.

Kenen Sellers

1. I volunteered at Faith Community AME Church in Elgin, IL

2. I provided Childcare assistance  for parents that needed it and i also participated in a food drive that took place. I helped to provide a service to people that would otherwise be unable to provide for their families. The food drive allowed me to sort non perishable food for people who can't afford to buy steady meals for their families.

3. I got a chance to work alongside others during the food drive. I encountered some people that work in the Cook County Health Department as well as members of the Little City  Foundation. I was given incite on the world of non profit organizations and how they work. It was interesting to rub elbows with people in the human services profession.   


4. As far as the childcare goes, I provided parents with a chance to work so they could provide their children with resources they need to develop and thrive. I feel I provided a similar service for the people who benefited from the food drive. The food was given to a local shelter that feeds the disadvantaged. the entire process allowed me to provide a service for people that needed a helping hand to get by.


5. This assignment allowed me to actually reflect upon what I was doing rather than just doing it. Through out the process I was able to think about the concepts I discussed and learn and see how they were relevant in a real world setting. This experience helped me grasp how simple it can be to help the disadvantaged helped me to understand how reward it can be to sacrifice some of your time to help someone in need

Project Link

Oluwatosin Efunkoya

April 26, 2013

Project Link

4840   

Girls on the Run 5k

Girls on the Run are learning program for 8 to 13 year-old girls. They teach the girls life skills through dynamic, conversation based lessons and running games. The program involves the girls with being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a 5k running event. The goal for this program is to help them with confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness, and for them to also know that they can do whatever they want to do in life. On the Girls on the Run 5k website it states that “Meeting twice a week in small teams of 8-15 girls, we teach life skills through dynamic, conversation-based lessons and running games. The 24-lesson curriculum is taught by certified Girls on the Run coaches and includes three parts: understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large.” (http://www.girlsontherun.org/Who-We-Are). I find that very interesting because it is something that you dedicate your time to come in twice a week to learn about many different things that would help the girls to continue to build their confidence. On the website it states what running means to the program “Running is used to inspire and motivate girls, encourage lifelong health and fitness, and build confidence through accomplishment. At each season's conclusion, the girls and their running buddies, complete a 5k running event.”

Coming in the YMCA building I was amazed that they had this in a small town I thought it was only located in Chicago. I never thought that I would reminisce on how I use to be in YMCA at that age 8-13; it brought back lots of memories. I went into the building at 7:25am we were directed to go into the main gym room. They had breakfast provided for us, we signed in and was giving supplies that I would use during the race, they gave us about 30 minutes to eat and prepare, we were also giving t-shirts that we all had to were during the whole day. It was a lot of money put into this event and families and friend were there to support the girls. Families and friends were also allowed to race as well and it was a fee to race. Mother’s and father’s  raced with their girls right by their side and motivated them even more to see that their mother and father can also achieve this goal as well. I can see lot of happiness in the girls face as they come to the finish line. I saw many girls that finished before the other go back in the race to motivate those that wanted to give up. Before the race the girls made things that they would be able to wear during the race that can be of support for them, which I thought was very good because you had all types of different ages that were in the race and anything to give them the power was good.

I waited at the end of the finish line and cheered all the girls on as they finish their accomplishment. I was very grateful to be apart off this program. At the end when everyone was done they gave the girls gold metals and congratulated them with the accomplishment, after they received there gold metals they were given fruits and water, and the family can stay because they had dancing, music and many other activities for the girls and their family. This program was well organized and put together, there were no injuries or accidents and everything went well as planned. Beth Gillespie was the Council Director for Girls on the Run East Central Illinois the Mattoon YMCA, she was a very busy lady but she made sure that everybody was satisfied and the girls accomplished everything. I would do this again and encourage every young girl to participate in this event.  Learn. Dream. Live. Run.

                                                                                                                        Ericca McHale

1. Where the student volunteered their time
• I volunteered my time at the food pantry in my hometown of Des Plaines, Illinois.
2. How the service activity reflected concepts learned in the current FCS course (FCS 4840), and/or other FCS courses
• The service that I did at the food pantry incorporated many aspects that I have learned all throughout my FCS classes. Most importantly I have learned that I should not judge people. The people that came into the food pantry were not necessarily poor, or homeless. A lot of the people have fallen on hard times due to the economy. Some people just need extra. I have also learned to be humble and not take what I have for granted. At one point in my life my mother, sister, and I were homeless. I have always had a deep respect for everyone but somewhere in the time of growing up I feel like I have lost that and volunteering at the food pantry helped bring it back to me.
3. How the student networked with other professionals while participating in the activity and what they GAINED from that networking
• While volunteering at the food pantry I had the opportunity to talk to other volunteers as well as the people coming in needing the extra help. It was a wonderful experience.  Volunteering at the food pantry made me realize that I wasn’t alone when I was younger. Everyone falls on hard times and although I havea  very stable home and support system talking with the other volunteers and the people needing the food pantry’s services made me realize that they are not alone either.
4. The potential effect the service activity and/or the service organization can have (or does have) on the community
• The food pantry has a huge impact on our community. I feel like although people may have been embarrassed to come into and ask for help they knew they were not alone. No matter what hardships you are going through and one point you feel like you are the only person going through this. I think the food pantry did a great job of helping people realize that they were not the only ones going through these struggles.
5. A general reflection on the assignment (e.g., reactions, feelings, life lessons)
• I absolutely loved volunteering my time at the food pantry. It brought back a lot of old feeling I had growing up but it made me humble. I know I did not have the best start in life but I am finishing off strong and no matter the hardships these people are going through; they too can finish off strong.

Paige Lindgren

1.         I volunteered my time at Northwoods Community Church in Peoria, Illinois.

2.         I volunteered three different times and provided free childcare for children for about an hour and half minutes while parents attended church services. This reflected some of the concepts that we learned about in class. I had all sorts of different children there from different backgrounds and cultures. It was like I already stated a volunteer basis so it was a free service for parents to bring their children for an hour and a half. It gives them a little break and also gave them the peace of mind that they don’t have to look for a babysitter and then pay someone to watch their children. It was neat to see how all the different children interacting with one another. At their young age a lot of the prejudice and preconceived notions were not in place yet.

3.         There were other volunteers there as well. We all talked a little beforehand but didn’t have much time throughout the night to really talk and get to know each other. If I think I were to go back more often I would maybe get to know them all better and then be able to network more. Another problem with getting to know them all was that the other people that volunteered each time were all different so it was hard to get to know them all very well. But they also said that they were in a rotation so if you were on the same weekends all the time then you would be consistently with the same people thus making it easier to get to know the other volunteers.

4.         Providing childcare for free for parents attending church services has a bug impact on the community. If there wasn’t childcare provided then the parents would have to do one of two things. Either they would have to take the children with them into the church service and that always is a problem. A child can only be so still and so quiet for so long. So providing this service to the families gives them a chance to be a grown up and relax while they know their child is having a great time interacting with children their age.  The other option they have is to find a babysitter that they would have to pay more than likely. Some of the families that were there could barely make ends meet. There is no way they would have been able to afford a babysitter once or twice a week.

5.         I really enjoyed my time there getting to know the children and playing with them in a child friendly environment. I would definitely do it again. Because it is volunteer based sometimes they have trouble finding people to fill the slots that are available leaving them short-handed and sometimes having to turn children away. They hate to turn people away but it can be a fire hazard and dangerous for the children to be outnumbered in a ratio.

Project Link

Katelynn McGuire

1.       For this assignment, I volunteered my time at a Head Start program in Orland Park. 

2.       Children that are placed into this program come from many different types of backgrounds.  Many of the families that have their children attend this school have come from a very low income if any.  This program offers children breakfast and lunch because it was only a half day program, since the children involved are very young.  They also go over basic essentials like how to brush their teeth, wash their hands, and other necessities that should be known to get through the day properly.  The school also gives these children a head start on informing and teaching them concepts that they wouldn’t know till their first day of kindergarten.  The teacher also provides some students with snacks to take home if she knows of a particular family that is really struggling to feed their child that month. 

3.       I really enjoyed my experience of working with the Head Start program.  I was able to communicate effectively not only with the head teacher in the classroom, but also the parents of some of the children that were in the program.  The parents had nothing but great comments about the program and how it has not only benefited their children but themselves as well.  One woman told me that because of the program she was able to go out and get a day job that otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to have because of the fact that no one would have been able to watch her daughter.  I also had the opportunity to talk to the director of the whole building for a couple of minutes at the end of my time and expressed to her how much I really enjoyed my time and how big of a difference I see being made with the children that are able to get into the program.  At the end of my visit, I actually was told that I could come back whenever I would like to volunteer and now plan on volunteering throughout some of the summer.  From this experience, I have gained knowledge and experience of what it is like to be in a Head Start classroom and loved it.  I now have actually made this an option for myself, as a potential career path that I may want to go down one day. 

4.       This service can have and already has made a tremendous impact on the community and families.  Unfortunately, not everyone can get into the program and there are other children who do need this help that the head start program is offering.  This program is not only helping those children who are less fortunate have a somewhat normal life experience, but also giving them food so their children don’t go on throughout the night with a starving stomach.  There instilling values, morals, and knowledge that some parents don’t have the time to teach their children because of certain circumstances they are under.  This program is essential because it means that every child no matter their race or culture matters.  It means that we care about the youth of America and that we are willing to provide a little more to the children whose parents can’t afford to provide it to them.  It’s giving children in our community who aren’t as fortunate to have the equal opportunity to be just as successful as those who were.

5.       This volunteering experience has really been an eye opener as to how many children today are going through life without the basic necessities.  It showed me that people not only around the world, but people in the town that I live in need help with providing their children with a better life.  This is something that I can honestly see myself doing in my future. I absolutely loved the program and I loved the opportunity it gave to the parents and children that are in need.  I feel that I got more out of my volunteering than the children did just because I felt a sense of self when I was done with this experience.  It is something that I definitely want to be involved in and pursue as I continue down my professional path.   

Volunteering at Immanuel Lutheran Preschool

By: Elizabeth Hardy

1. I decided to volunteer at Immanuel Lutheran Preschool because I absolutely love working with children.

2. Volunteering at this preschool made a huge connection with what is discussed in FCS 4840 because it shows what type of families children are coming from. The children that are being raised today are our children of our future and it is very important to raise them with proper morals and values. Many people say you should never judge a book by its cover, but in the child care profession you have to. While volunteering at Immanuel Lutheran you can tell which child actually came from a family that's living in poverty or the "working poor". Volunteering at this preschool didn't just make to the information in the FCS 4840 course, but also the life span course, family perspectives, and family in crisis. It connects with life span development because I was able to work with different age groups. I was able to see the different age levels in children. It connects with family perspectives because in this course you discuss different age groups and also schools that are available for children. Finally, it connects with family in crisis because I was able to speak with a child whose family was going through a crisis. One of the child’s father was in the military and he had to go to a different state for a couple of months. The preschooler was very upset the day her father left and she waited patiently for her father to come home. In family in crisis you discuss military families and how it affects the children and the family as a whole.

3. While I was volunteering I was able to speak with many different teachers who just loved to teach and watch children's minds grow. The teacher that I observed was a woman who absolutely had a passion for teaching, she didn't teach for money but for the love she has for children. I was also able to talk to the director of the preschool. The director was able to give me good advice on how to run a preschool and how much work it is. I realized that in order to work with children you have to have a great amount of patience. Volunteering at the preschool made me think about how I want to run my preschool and what type of teachers to look for when opening my very own preschool. 

4. This preschool is great for the community because its education for children. There are some children who aren't able to go to preschool. Preschools are just the beginning of an educational journey for children and their minds. While the child in the community is growing the community is growing as well. The saying "it take a community/village to raise a child" is very true; whatever happens in the community/ village will affect the child and vice versa.

5. I really enjoyed volunteering at Immanuel Lutheran Preschool. I am very excited to start my career in the next year or so. The children and teachers have taught me a lot and I will make sure that I will take this on my journey to teaching.  Many teachers have lost the patience when dealing with children and I believe that it takes a person with a lot of patience and a nurturing person to teach children. I enjoy teaching children because it’s amazing to watch their faces light up when they learn something new. I was happy about doing this assignment because I enjoy talking about how children can help a community grow and how they affect the community.   

Salvation Army Volunteer Experience - Elise Redmond

1.      I volunteered at the Salvation Army back at home in Chicago.

2.      This volunteer experience definitely reflected concepts learned in class. I bagged and distributed different food items to those in needs. I instantly though about the discussion we had in class about those unfortunate individuals living in poverty as well as the working poor.

3.      While volunteering at the Salvation Army I met some wonderful people their. i met one lady and she really wanted to me to come back over the summer and work. I told her that I’m staying in Charleston and she told me that she was sad. We exchanged contact info and decided to keep in touch. The director of the food pantry recommended that I come home to do my internship their as well. I really enjoyed working with them. I met some genuinely nice people.

4.      I think this is very essential to the community. I think that the different food being distributed to those in need is great. Everyone can’t afford groceries and with the Salvation Army’s help is amazing. I can tell that those individuals who came to pick up food were very happy and appreciative.

5.      Overall this experience was great. I bagged different food items for a few hours then I ended up helping distribute the food bags. It was a learning experience and I was so happy to help those individuals in need. This experience definitely had an impact on my life; I am learning to not take things for granted. Those individuals who were less fortunate were so grateful to receive the food. I am so appreciative that I was able to volunteer with the Salvation Army and gain the experience and knowledge.

Takaia Butler(Project Link)-Midway Neurological & Rehabilitation Center

1. I volunteered my time to Midway Neurological and Rehabilitation Center in Bridgeview, Illinois, which services a reliable and comfortable stay for individuals with onsite 24-hour care service. I volunteered with the activity department for a one day service preparing the individuals for breakfast, lunch and both snacks breaks, assisting in activities.

2. I was able to work directly with individuals with disabilities and seeing and hear the different stories of their lives and how many of the individuals were homeless before coming into the center as well others on drugs. I was able to see how the individuals managed with their income and how they mostly lived under the poverty line, as well seeing how a lot of individuals lost connection with their family and friends.

3. I was able to see how each professional within the center worked handed and hand at providing the individual the best care and help possible. How the social services worked as a team with the nursing staff and the financial department staff, how the financial department worked side by side of the medical records department. I gained the knowledge that everyone works together to build the best stay and assure that the individual is getting the best possible care while in the center.

4. I believe that the service activity can allow those individuals who never worked with this population before a better understand of what their daily life consist of and allow them to see the perception that is mostly giving about nursing homes and rehabilitation centers are generally not always true.

 
5.  I really enjoyed working with the individuals I choose this center because I one day want to work with individuals with drug addictions or as a family services provider in general. This experience allowed me to get a better understand of the different things some of the individuals been through and what brought them into the center to live.