Student United Way seeks ways to address biggest issues facing local youths
After spending two months learning about and discussing the biggest issues affecting area youths, Logan County high schoolers serving on the Student United Way committee are seeking funding proposals to address them.
The group has $20,000 from the annual United Way campaign to spend and is inviting local organizations and schools to submit a Youth Allocations Grant application.
The deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 20. Grant funds will be awarded by the end of May.
Grants can fund one or more projects to address the following areas:
• Mental Health, such as but not limited to — High School Challenge Days and Peer Support for youths.
• Substance Abuse, such as but not limited to — Anti-drug and alcohol education; peer support for youth who are using substances; support for students whose parents/family use substances; DARE; Neighborhood Outreach Centers; Safe after-school and summer activities; and engaging public speakers;
• Financial Literacy programming;
• Workforce Development, including but not limited to — Job shadowing; tours and field trips to local businesses; career days; and career fairs.
• Healthy Living, including but not limited to — Home economics programming; cooking and meal preparation; diet and nutrition education; and summer and weekend food distribution.
All project proposals must impact youth under 18 in Logan County. Projects can occur in an individual classroom, school wide, at an agency or organization, or in the community at large.
As such, teachers and school administrators, nonprofits, government agencies, and churches are all encouraged to apply.
“We want to see realistic ideas that can be resolved using this money, not just busy work,” said Allison Knight, a senior at Riverside High School.
“Down-to-earth solutions where someone in need can relate to somebody instead of feeling like they are being preached to or might get defensive,” said Douglas Bungard, a senior at Indian Lake High School.
Applications are available online at www.uwlogan.org or by calling Dave Bezusko at (937) 592-2886.
Two juniors and two seniors from all Logan County high schools have been participating in United Way’s annual youth leadership development program, which exposes students to the social service challenges.
To date, the students have staffed a Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry distribution, reviewed the results of the 2021 Community Needs Assessment, and heard from or toured multiple United Way funded agencies, including the Logan County CORE, Logan County Homeless Shelter, Logan County Sheriff’s Office, Lutheran Community Services, and Union Station.
“It’s a very eye-opening experience because we’re not presented with these concerns all the time, so it’s very nice to see everything in our community,” Bungard said.
“It’s really cool that we get this opportunity to use our money in ways to better support or help the community,” Knight said.