Honoring Youth Volunteers

Recently, the Saint Therese Foundation hosted a celebration to honor youth volunteers at the community of Saint Therese at Oxbow Lake in Brooklyn Park, MN. Over 50 people attended the event that recognized four recipients who have made older adults a priority in their lives. Attendees of the event had the opportunity to meet the outstanding youth and hear a portion of their essays.

The Youth Volunteer Scholarship was created to recognize intergenerational connections and encourage other youth to engage with older adults. Engaging youth volunteers ages 12 to 18 years old, the contest invited young people who volunteered 20 hours or more to submit a written essay demonstrating how volunteering with older adults impacted their life.

“Youth who have taken the time to volunteer with an older adult are gaining as much as they are giving,” said Barbara Rode, Saint Therese President and CEO. “The youth volunteer scholarship was created in an effort to both recognize these youth and highlight the profound effect volunteering has on all those involved.”

A committee of Saint Therese friends and families judged the submissions and chose four recipients to be honored. Each student was awarded a $1,000 educational scholarship for their essay about community involvement.

“We received many wonderful essays. It was inspiring to read what each person has contributed to, and gained from, their experiences,” said Rode.

Saint Therese is grateful for the time and commitment of all volunteers. The organization was happy to recognize the youth volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Month in April. A special thank you to The Catholic Spirit, which was the Media Partner for the event.

Volunteer today, earn a scholarship later
Summer vacation is a perfect time for youth to volunteer with seniors and earn hours to be eligible to participate in the Youth Volunteer Scholarship.

Volunteer at a local senior care community, offer to do yard work for older adults in the neighborhood or even spend some one-on-one time with grandparents. Each hour brings youth one step closer to earning an educational scholarship for the future.

To learn more about the scholarship visit sttheresemn.org/youth-scholarship or call 763.531.5075.

Recipient quotes –
“The elderly at the nursing homes I’ve visited have made an enormous positive impact on me, and I can only hope I’ve made an impact of the same kind on them.”
-Parker Adams, age 12

“Participating in the Saint Therese youth volunteering program has been a really positive and life changing experience for me!”

-Olyvia Walker, age 13

 “The bonds I have formed with the older adults that I have helped in minor ways have had major impacts on my character and instilled in me values that have transformed the way I think and act each and every day.”

-Isabel Brown, age 16

 “Helping older adults is the biggest blessing in my life because it has shown me that love can be given to people through the simplest actions.”

-Megan Roth, age 17