Teen Reach (Jessica Montanez)

Teen Reach

I dedicated my time at Teen Reach where I was able to gain so much knowledge about children with disabilities.Throughout this experience, I was able to use my knowledge from in class discussions for this unforgettable moment. Working around those children who had disabilities made me realize my passion for FCS. During my time with these children, I made sure that I was careful on how I spoke to these children. Many of the children that I worked with were from the ages of 12-17 years old. Most of these teen age students were very friendly and welcoming. They seeked help when they were completing their homework assignments, and they were very sociable and well respectful with questions that I asked. As a student, I have learned throughout several classes that these are children that we have to be careful with because they have many struggles and problems with their families and abilities. These after school programs are ways for them to help them with their struggles. Therefore, I tried my very best to be as caring and responsible when I am around them. 

When I worked with Teen Reach, I worked with the owner of this program. I can’t recall his name, but I know I met him twice. He was a wonderful person who helped me feel comfortable about working with his students. He was helpful with what I needed to do around with the children, and he made sure that I was always ok. I worked closely with him for the two days, and he taught me that these children at Teen Reach are very appreciative. They appreciate anything you do for them. He explained how I needed to just be aware of the conversations that go on around these children because sometimes they can be aggressive with one another. Sometimes they may have a horrible day because of something that is going on in their lives, or they something might have happened in school. So, it’s always important to ask them about their day when they walk into the building. One tip he gave me was that I should always smile and show them that everything is going to be ok. His advice and passion for his program was unbelievable. He also spoke to me about coming back at anytime to work with him and the children. Networking is a beautiful thing, and I believe that I have enjoyed this project the most. I have never enjoyed myself as much as I have did with Teen Reach. 

I believe that Teen Reach has a major impact in the Charleston community because there are so many people who are willing to dedicate time to those children that need extra attention and help. Working with Teen Reach, I realized that the workers at this program as so thankful and appreciative for their jobs. Sometimes people join jobs without being passionate about it, but with these workers they have shown their dedication and motivation. Teen Reach is helping so many families that need their children supervised. I think this is a beautiful place where they are making so many changes in lives, and I would love to come back and work here again. 

Overall, this project really made me think about life and how many children need role models. Even as a child, I always wanted to become a teacher or have a job where I can impact people’s lives. This experience just made me want to graduate already and help out other communities and families. I know that I will be a great social worker for students when I pursue my degree in FCS. My experience at Teen Reach has given me more motivation to work more with children who are in need of help. It’s always important to give back to the community, so I am willing to always help around when I can. I was so lucky to be involved with this program. I was so happy that I went back home to my parents talking about my experience, and how I want to return back to continue to dedicate more of my time. 

Project Link-Rachel Frazier

Rachel Frazier

 FCS 4840

Project Link Assignment

Teen Reach & Jefferson Elementary School

  1.  I volunteered my time at two different places in Charleston. The first place I volunteered at was Jefferson Elementary School. I volunteered on April 12^th, from 12:30pm until 3:30 pm.  At the elementary school, they have an annual event called “Jefferson Fun Days.” At this event, I helped out in the gymnasium by playing an assortment of games with the children who were in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade. The second place I volunteered at was called Teen Reach. I volunteered from 3 pm to 5 pm on April 23^rd. At Teen Reach, I helped out with their after school program with children ranging from 10 years old until 16 years old. At Teen Reach, I helped out by playing games with the kids, coloring, and just talking to them.

2.  The two places I volunteered at reflects concepts I’ve learned in FCS 4840 and other FCS courses because at these places, there were numerous children who are living in extremely unsupportive households. At Jefferson elementary school and at Teen Reach, there were a lot of kids who have a hard home life, or an unsupportive family. In class, we learn all about families in crisis, so these two programs really help children stay on the right track. Jefferson Elementary School has fun activities to keep their students out of trouble, and Teen Reach has such a strong program to keep kids busy after school and provide much needed support that they need. Being an FCS major, we are always taught to never discriminate or judge others. I feel this is such an important concept, because being a volunteer, and someday a professional, it is so crucial to not judge or stereotype anyone under any circumstances.

3.  When I volunteered at Jefferson Fun Days and Teen Reach, I really felt like it gave me the chance to network with other professionals. When I volunteered at these places, each program wrote down my name, and I was told they saved it for their records. While volunteering, I made sure to always have a positive attitude and to try my best to engage with the kids. I was really happy when the directors and teachers said I did a good job, because it made me feel like I really made a difference. Although the places just took my names down and saved it, I feel that I gained a lot of networking through that alone. Because these places have my name in their records, they will remember that I was a volunteer and I worked well the children. Not only will these two places be great to put on my resume, if a future employer needs to talk to someone, I have the phone numbers to Teen Reach and Jefferson Elementary school, so they can confirm I worked well with the children.

4     4. I feel Jefferson Fun days and the Teen Reach programs both have such a strong impact on the community. Jefferson Elementary school has Jefferson Fun Days once every year, and I feel it really does make an impact on the children. Some students at this elementary school have a really hard home life, so having a day like this can be something they look forward to all year long. This is a day where the students can have fun, play games, and have one day where they don’t have to focus strictly on school work. Teen Reach is so important for this community because it is a safe place for children to go to after school who may not have the best support at home. So many kids who attend this program may not have any caregiver with them after school if it was not for Teen Reach. This program allows children to have supportive leaders and role models surrounding them. Teen Reach also is a place that can help children stay out of trouble, because they have positive people around them every day after school.

5        5. After volunteering at Teen Reach and Jefferson Fun days, I feel I really leaned just how many kids face struggles every single day just because they have a hard home life. At the elementary school and Teen Reach, it broke my heart to see how so many kids clearly lacked enough attention at home. There were multiple kids who came up to me who simply just wanted someone to talk to and tell how they were feeling. I thought Jefferson Fun Days was such a great program for children because it was a fun and energetic environment that allows them to have fun and interact with other students and volunteers. I also thought Teen Reach was an excellent program because it really helps numerous kids in so many ways. They provide homework help, snacks, movies, and most importantly, a supportive group of individuals who really want the best for these kids.  

Molly McGuire- Meals On Wheels

Molly McGuire

Project Link

4/23/2013

Where the student volunteered their time

1)      I volunteered my time the Meals on Wheels organization in my hometwon. I helped prepare the meals at the Hospital and then delivered the meals to many different residents in my hometown. During the deliveries me and the other volunteer I was paired with would not only deliver the meal but also would bring a bagged lunch for later in the day and also would visit with the resident. Most of the individuals we saw were living in poverty, they were disabled, or they were just lonely.

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

2)      Volunteering for Meals on Wheels was a very eye opening experience and it reflected greatly on the education I have received here at Eastern Illinois University. In many of my courses we have discussed how older adults can feel lonely and how just taking some time out of your day to speak to someone can be very important to their health and wellbeing. I know that Meals on Wheels is much more than just delivering a meal to someone, it might be the only communication that person has the whole day. In my Aging in the Family class and in other courses we have discussed how depression due to isolation among the elderly is very common. Meals on Wheels is one way to reduce that isolation and ensure that individuals are getting the nutrients they need. Like we discussed in FCS 4840, older individuals might not have the mobility to get food, or they might not have the appetite to eat. Meals on Wheels can help in many different ways, not only eating.

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

3)      While working with Meals on Wheels, I worked with a dietitian at the hospital while making the meals and I also worked with other volunteers who have very kind hearts and just want to help others. The dietitian showed us the different diets of some of the residents, this was very important for the residents because some had different medical problems that needed a special diet. The dietitian was very careful and showed all the volunteers how important it was to get everything just right. When we went out on the deliveries, I was paired up with an older woman who was very sweet. She always volunteers for the organization because she knows many of her friends count on the program and she cares for those people and wants to make sure that they are receiving food and comfort.

The potential effect the service activity and/or the service organization can have (or does have) on the community

4)      The effect this service has on the community is a great one and very important one. I know that the residents we delivered to were very grateful for our service, and they counted on it. If the Meals on Wheels program wasn’t available to these individuals then it would be very difficult or impossible for these individuals to have a healthy meal because of lack of money, mobility, or care from other people. I am happy that this service is available to older adults in my community.

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

5)      I loved volunteering for this program. I realized how important it is for these types of programs to be available to older adults. There are so many things we take for granted, that older individuals might not have available to them due to different factors. Volunteering for this program it not only was an eye opener to this problem in my community but also I realized how little is really being done for the older population. Meals on Wheels is doing what they can and is an awesome organization. Although I feel like there are so many more services that I feel our community could create for individuals. I feel like the more people need to be aware of the Meals on Wheels service because they could always use more volunteers and I feel like others would be willing and would want to help they just need to be aware. I plan to volunteer with Meals on Wheels again soon.

Project LINK - Janelle

1) I volunteered my time this semester at Unity High School.  My stepmom is a Spanish teacher, and teaches a majority of the freshman that attend this high school.  She has a few students that require extra attention due to severe eye sight impairment, and she has no teacher's aid to help her.  I helped her create handouts, assignments, and tests that were all in extra-large print so the students were able to have the same opportunities in class as their peers.  I also tutored them with their homework, and gave them their exams orally.

2) The students that require extra help due to their physical impairments should not be at a disadvantage in school.  As we learned in class, people with disabilities should be treated equally by society.  My stepmom takes on a lot of responsibilities, and makes it a priority to give these students the same opportunities as those who do not need extra attention.  I was able to help her give these students these equal opportunities by volunteering my time in her classroom this semester. 

3) By volunteering my time at this particular high school, I was able to get to know the staff at the school on a more personal level.  Because I was volunteering with my stepmom, I was able to get to know her on a professional level instead of just the personal relationship we already had.  She was able to see my skills and abilities as a professional.  I received a great amount of positive feedback from her, as well as other teachers throughout the school.  I was able to network with the teachers, and got my name out in the community for being a positive influence on the students that I assisted.  When I am awarded my degree, I was asked to put my name in with the school as a possible substitute. 

4) High school students need to be well educated because they are the future of our country.  Teaching the students basic Spanish will allow them to take these skills and apply them to their future in the community.  Students with disabilities should not fall behind because of inadequate teaching.  By obtaining an equal education, they will be able to go out and be productive members of society just as their peers will be.  They will be seen as equal, rather than being at a disadvantage because of their disabilities.

5) The particular students that I volunteered my time with probably taught me more than I taught them.  I was able to gain hands on experience by helping these girls get the same opportunity as their classmates.  They were always more than excited to see me come in, and it was such a positive experience.  Because of the time I spent with them, I now fully understand how important it is for all students to obtain an equal education, no matter what disabilities they may have.  I was also able to see the potential in these students, and I know they will successful.  This was an experience I will never forget.

LINK project at Salvation Army by Dana Tell

1 

 .      I volunteered at The Salvation Army in Mattoon.  They provide services for the people of Coles and Cumberland counties.

2.    I have learned about poverty and food insecurity in class.  The Salvation Army gives food out of their food bank to those who need it each month.  I am also learning about families in crises.  Some of the families they help are going through crises.

3.    The Salvation Army has a family resource development specialist or case manager that can provide other services to people in our community.  If she cannot help them, she can give a referral to other organizations that can. I learned that there are several other resources families in our community can have access.  Knowing this will come in handy when I hear of someone who needs these services. 

4.    The Food Bank at the Salvation provides community members with groceries.  This provides a small amount of food security each month because residents know that if they happen to not be able to get food any other way that they can get food through the food bank.  This allows people to get a little help each month to help with food cost, and their supply of food.  Having volunteers in this position can help the organization keep overall cost low and help with the flow of people who need help with the food bank.

5.      Reading about the fact it happens is very different than seeing that it happens in my community.  Some of the clients I know from seeing them in the community.  We were busy in spurts.  We had no one come in for an hour and then people from three different households came in.  When they talked they realized they were all eligible to get food from the Salvation Army, so they came in.  We also had two people come in together because one of them did not have transportation to the Salvation Army.  

Project LINK-Jessica Ferbrache

1. I volunteered for EIU Best Buddies at the buddy ball on April 14th from 12pm-3pm, at the Charleston VFW. I also volunteered for girls on the run on April 20th from 8am-11am, at Charleston high school.
2. Best Buddies is a non profit organization for individuals with disabilities. It is a chapter at Eastern and my roommate is the director of it. Students from Eastern are able to form one on one friendships with individuals with disabilities in the community. These individuals are always excited to get out of their houses and do fun activities with the college students. Most of them live in CTF houses and are a lot of them do not get to see their families frequently. In class we discussed that individuals with disabilities are an invisible group of people, which is why programs like these are so important. While volunteering for girls on the run, I worked the gratitude garden with Georgia Hillard, who works for Body Electric. The gratitude garden was for anyone to come up and draw a picture of a flower and write what they are thankful for. Girls on the run is a nonprofit organization and is a youth development program for girls. It promotes girls to be healthy and confident. Adolescents are easily influenced and are programs like these to promote positive behavior are extremely important within the community. 
3. While volunteering at Best Buddies, I did not make any connections because it is run by the EIU students. I gained friendships and more knowledge about individuals with disabilities. These individuals are part of the community and it was wonderful to be able to hang out with them and see them enjoying themselves so much. While volunteering at Girls on the Run, I worked with Georgia and I am also going to be interning at Body Electric this summer. I was able to get a feel for the program and get to know Georgia better. I got to talk to a lot of young girls about what they were thankful for and about girls on the run. They were thankful for a lot of amazing things and it really made me appreciate things in my life as well.
4. Both of the places I volunteered at are great for the community. At the Girls on the Run event, there were so many people there to support everyone. Boys are also allowed to run, as well as family members and other members of the community. There were different booths around for everyone to go check out such as our gratitude garden, and face painting, and hair coloring. Everything about this event was so positive and encouraging for everyone. It is a very great program. Best Buddies is also a great program because it gives students at Eastern the opportunity to get to know these amazing individuals with disabilities. It is also very fun and rewarding to make these friendships and see your best buddy so happy. 
5. I really enjoyed doing this assignment because it got me out into the community more and volunteering more. I think this assignment was very rewarding. I was able to make connections with amazing people in best buddies and was able to work closely with children and families at the girls on the run event. I will continue to volunteer with body electric this summer and hope the programs continue to be fun and beneficial to families. 

Catholic Charities-Regina Lane

1.  I volunteered my time at Catholic Charities in Mattoon, IL

2.  Catholic Charities is an organization that excepts donations like clothes, shoes, baby toys, furniture, computers, baby clothes, dishes, etc.  What they do with these donations is they have volunteers and employees go through the items to make sure they are in good shape and have them sorted and hanged.  They also have a food pantry that they help families who need assistance with food or bills that can not be paid.  They also have a program that helps pregnant teens or mothers with baby items.  The organization is a very nice place to volunteer at, but also helps families in low-income homes that need assistance in some kind of way.  In my FCS classes I have learned that as a professional you can not judge those who need or who are on assistance, because we do not know there circumstances.  As professionals we have to be knowledgeable of the different services we can offer families that need help whether it's getting help with food, bills, daycare, housing, etc.  We have to have an open mind and be able to work well with others and not be judgmental.

3.  I worked well with the other employees as well as with the supervisor of Catholic Charities.  Everyone their was friendly and helpful. The supervisor took me around Catholic Charities to give me a tour, because I have never been in there before.  And she told me a little bit about the place as well and what they do.

4.   I have volunteered before but not in an organization like this.  I would have to say while I was doing my 5 hours there it made me feel really good about myself.  So I asked if I could come back and volunteer to help out a couple times a month, and the supervisor was so thrilled and said that I was more than welcome to.  I felt like I was helping and making a difference.  While  I was doing my hours the supervisor placed me with a group of ladies sorting clothes in the warehouse area.  I had to go through the clothes and check to see if there were stains, holes/rips in the clothing and if they smelled.  Once I had inspected the clothes then I would hang up the clothing on a hanger and put it on a rack for later to be priced.  I was sorting for summer clothes and then packing up winter in boxes for next year.  That is what I did for the whole 5 hours I was there.  It was pretty easy.  The effect  this organization has on the community is that they can come get assistance and not feel ashamed at all about it.  But they also can buy different types of house ware stuff, clothes, books, movies, cd's, etc. for a cheap price.  They also can get name brand  clothes for a cheap price as well.  A lot of families come to shop at Catholic Charities, because that's all they can afford.

5.  My feelings on volunteering at Catholic Charities made me realize that it's an organization that needs volunteers and those who do volunteer enjoy helping others in need. Volunteering made me think that I'm even though I'm 30yrs. old I'm not to old to volunteer and help others.  I felt great volunteering at the Catholic Charities and plan on at least once or twice a month volunteering a couple hours.