Staff Writer
Simone Michaud, volunteer for the Youth Disney Minnie Grant and a student of the Woodland Consolidated School in Woodland, will complete a youth-led service project addressing funds needed to continue serving the citizens of Caribou and surrounding areas, by donating all proceeds earned through a community supper to the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen in Caribou. Michaud was one of 70 recipients awarded a Disney Minnie Grant from Youth Service America (YSA) that enables children and youth around the world to assume leadership roles developing and implementing community service projects. Simone is the daughter of Richard and Katie Michaud of Perham. On Friday, Jan. 29, there will be a spaghetti supper served from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Woodland Consolidated Community School. This event will feature live musical performances, door prizes and great tasting food, including homemade desserts. Hosting this event will be John Bougie’s fifth-grade class, members of the Caribou National Honor Society and other community members.
“It is my hope that this community supper will help the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen pay bills so that citizens-in-need can have a hot meal during these cold winter months,” stated Michaud.
In 2009, YSA awarded almost 400 grants to children and youth, inspiring them to partner with their friends, schools, and community and faith-based organizations, and businesses. The majority of the Disney Minnie grantees focused on one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (such as poverty, education, and environmental sustainability) established by the United Nations.
While youth of all ages participate in service and servicelearning, YSA especially encouraged the participation of younger children, ages 5-14, in projects funded by the Disney Minnie Grants. A research show that the number one reason young people volunteer is because someone asked them.
YSA continues its campaign to engage children and youth in service and encourages grant recipients to participate in Global Youth Service Days, April 23-25. The largest service event in the world, GYSD celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service-learning.
Youth Service America improves communities by increasing the scale and diversity of young people, ages 5-25, serving in substantive roles. Founded in 1986, YSA supports a global culture of engaged youth committed to a lifetime of service, learning, leadership and achievement. The impact of YSA’s work through service and service-learning is measured in student achievement, workplace readiness and healthy communities.
