Arc of Walker County will use WAY Council funds to purchase children's therapeutic equipment, new toys and to make therapy rooms more inviting for children who are already uncomfortable being in unfamiliar settings. youth volunteers will be included in improving the play areas and installing new equipment.
Baby Talk , a program of the Jasper Area Family Resource Center, received a grant in support of their Story Time Hour (STH). STH volunteers perform a story in Walker County every month at a public venue, free of charge to families with young children. Following this performance, families will be given the featured book to take home to allow them to read and perform at home. Youth volunteers are used to read, dress up as characters in the book to interact with children, and as helpers to the Baby Talk staff.
Curry High School Anchor Club will receive funding for their Trick-or-Treat Safety Program. This Halloween event provides HeadStart children with costumes and trick-or-treat bags. Children come to Curry High School and trick-or-treat at each teacher's door. This event is offered to provide a safe alternative to trick-or-treating. Youth volunteers will shop for costumes and candy, as well as help teachers decorate their doors for Halloween.
Habitat for Humanity is beginning to conduct critical home repairs in Walker County. Youth volunteers will be used to recruit other youth volunteers and to help with home repairs.
The Jasper Aquanauts Swim Team , of the Special Olympics sponsors a regional swim meet each year. This grant will fund the p arty the night before the meet in which swimmers will socialize and have fun the night before their big meet. Youth volunteers help in every aspect from planning of the party to coaching swimmers at the meet.
The JET Afterschool Program , a program of the City of Jasper, is a new adventure for middle school boys and girls. The Jasper Explorer Team (JET) will go on day trips to, originally, places around Walker County. These trips are designed to give members a new and exciting form of entertainment, and exposure to educational, interesting and fun experiences. Volunteer youth will assist the Staff Counselors on these trips.
The Memorial Park Natatorium with WAY Council funds will host a DIVE-IN MOVIE for teens. This event will offer teens a fun activity for the night and will be used to promote community service opportunities for youth. The WAY Council will partner with the Nat to put this event on and will be involved in every aspect of planning, registration and networking.
Parent Project received funding to support their teen class in conducting community service projects. The teens will build a walkway at the North Highlands School to allow greater accessibility for individuals with disabilities. They will also create flash cards of the alphabet to be used by families participating with the Walker County HIPPY program, which focuses on working with parents of preschool youngsters in an effort to prepare children for school.
The Walker County Arts Alliance hosts Art in the Park (AIP) each year at the Memorial Park Natatorium. AIP offers the community an opportunity to purchase artwork from regional artists. The WAY Council will support the Children's Activities which allows the children in attendance to express their creativity through art. Youth volunteers will aid children in art projects.
The Walker County Literacy Council's "Reading Rocks" program features "celebrity readers" from Walker County reading their favorite book from their childhood or connected to their celebrity status. Youth volunteers will create bulletin boards in local elementary schools publicizing the events, be celebrity readers and hand out books to children.
The WAY Council of the Walker Area Community Foundation recently awarded $7,950 in grant money to nonprofit organizations and school clubs in Walker County. These projects will offer youth the opportunity to volunteer in areas such as the arts and literacy along with children and special needs individuals. To volunteer, please go to the WAY Council website at www.wacf.org/way to find these volunteer opportunities and more!
APEX, Accessible Playground Extreme Experience - To aid in the construction of the third phase of this facility that provides an accessible playground for area children and families
Arc of Walker County - To renovate the Arc's playground for their Early Head Start and Pre-K programs.
Baby Talk - To give families an opportunity to attend a free event at a public venue to explore classic stories read by adult volunteers while youth appear in costumed as characters from the story.
Cordova High School Beta and Spanish Clubs - To promote artistic, musical and cultural awareness to the community through "Art on the Hill".
Curry Anchor Club - To provide the Curry HeadStart Program with an opportunity to trick-or-treat in a safe environment.
Curry T-Rock - To fund T-Rock, a peer helping program that provides supportive services such as tutoring, peer counseling and good decision-making skills.
Jasper Aquanauts Special Olympics Team - To aid in the cost of hosting a sectional swim meet representing Walker County and to invite various special needs swim teams from around the state to attend.
My A.R.T.S. Kids - To help provide after-school fine arts classes in the Walker County Elementary Schools.
Walker County Arts Alliance - To fund an entertaining and fun section with art activities for the children who attend the Annual Art in the Park Festival
