The Carthage United Way is in the midst of its 2009 fund drive. The goal is to raise $310,000 to distribute to area groups and agencies that help people.
In the past issues The Carthage Press told you about the food pantries run by the Salvation Army, Crosslines and the Crisis Center.
We’ve also presented information about the American Red Cross, Camp Quality, the Family Literacy Center and Lafayette House.
These are seven of the 14 agency members of the Carthage United Way that benefit from the money raised in Carthage.
Over the next few issues, The Press will tell you about the other agencies in the United Way, leading up to the finale of the campaign at the end of this month.
In this issue, the Ozark Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America answers questions about its organization.
What do you do?
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.
For the last 100 years, the BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes — and, through nearly a century of experience, knows that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.
Q. Who benefits from your service?
A. The youth of our community and the community itself.
First the youth:
We service the youth with an age appropriate program teaching citizenship, personal fitness, and building character. We serve age groups as follows:
• Cub Scouts: Boys first through fifth grades.
• Boy Scouts: Boys 11-17.
• Venturing: Boys and girls 14 through 20 years of age and completed the eighth grade.
Explorers (Career based group) Boys and girls 14 through 20 years of age and completed the eighth grade.
Second the community:
All our youth do community service projects. Our Boy Scouts lead what we call Eagle projects. These projects are done for the community or organization supporting the community. Our program builds leadership and citizenship that they spread through the community.
Q. How do people access your services?
A. We can be accessed through the school night events like the ones coming up the week of Nov. 16 – 19. We are also just a phone call away through our Scout service center in Joplin at 417-624-4168 or on the web at www.ozarktrailsbsa.org.
Q. What does your service mean to Carthage, Jasper County residents?
A. All our youth do community service projects. Our Boy Scouts lead what we call Eagle projects. These projects are done for the community or organizations supporting our community. Our program builds character, leadership and citizenship that they spread throughout the community. These youth are less likely to commit crimes, more likely to graduate high school and more likely to get a degree. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders
Q. What does the support from the Carthage United Way mean to your group?
A. In a nutshell, the support from the Carthage United Way is the single most support keeping Scouting alive in Carthage. The support helps pay for scholarships, to camp, for books, for membership, and uniforms. It also supports the training of our many volunteers.
Remember this program is for and about the growth of the youth in our community!!!
