Youth Group of the Upstate SC Chapter
Genean Berggrun,
Youth
Services
Specialist
Over the past several
years, the American Red Cross Youth Association in
Greenville, South Carolina has served upstate teens
with a fresh outlook on their community through a
combination of service projects, fundraising events,
and discussions concerning their local environment.
Every other week, the group gets together to talk
over present and future plans that give them the
opportunity to directly and indirectly serve their
local Red Cross and its mission.
With games at the
start of every meeting to quickly warm up new
members called "ice breakers", the collective is
always open to anything new and fresh. Turnover of
members is relatively low with some having been part
of the committee for as long as five years. Ideas
are constantly flowing back and forth and some sort
of project or fundraiser is staged at lease once per
month.
Most notably the group
commits to a yearly fundraiser knows as the HEROES
Campaign which raises money strictly for the
Greenville county disaster victims in that area. To
be considered a "HERO" a person or organization must
raise at lease $1000. The American Red Cross Youth
Group raised just over $1110 with a concert and a
mini-restaurant this year.
Members also have the
chance to run for office each year in positions:
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and
Youth Representative. At least once a month these
officers meet to serve as a strong, active backbone
to our productive organization. This has really led
our uniquely assembled group to a strong sense of
family and belonging. In our balance of school and
life, we find new things about ourselves and others
that help shape us into better citizens. This
strength has even spawned smaller ARC Youth
organizations at area schools further diversifying
our outreach.
Everyone here who is
with us has found out how they can make a difference
in their local and global world, and all of us have
put forth the efforts for our peers to see.
"YOUTH IN
THE SPOTLIGHT"
Each month we will feature an
outstanding youth group member who has dedicated
time and hard work into contributing to the services
and duties of the Upstate SC American Red Cross
Chapter.
TONI WILLIAMSON
-Toni
has been volunteering with the Red Cross for
three years
-She is
certified in CPR and AED
Projects to which she has contributed
include:
Collecting donated
canned goods for A Child’s Haven
Serving lunch at the
Greenville Rescue Mission
Decorating for
and hosting the Annual Halloween
party for Pendleton Place Shelter
-Toni
has also participated in our
Leadership Development Camp, and she
is our Member Representative this
year.
Way
to go Toni!!
Brendan McCartney
and Toni Williamson lead a group meeting
on a discussion about new t-shirt
designs. (Toni is on the right.)
Schools in the Area that Participate
Click each
link below to view each school's website.
Northwest Middle School
1600 Geer Highway,
Travelers Rest, SC 29690 1.864.355.6900
Travelers Rest High School
301 North Main St.,
Travelers Rest, SC 29690
1.864.355.0000
Southside High School
100 Blassingame Road,
Greenville, SC 29605
1.864.299.8393
