The Village Network Youth Give Back to Local Community
WOOSTER, Ohio - Three local nonprofit organizations will reap the benefits of The Village Network - Boys' Village Campus Garden Therapy program. Wayne County Humane Society, Wayne County Children's Advocacy Center (WCCAC) and The Village Network will all receive $100.
The money was raised through the sale of produce and flowers from the 7,500-square-foot plot on the Wooster campus. All of the boys in The Village Network (TVN) Day Treatment program participate in planting, caring and harvesting two gardens. The boys spent two days a week in garden therapy and on the weekends sold the produce at the Wooster Farmer's Market.
The decision to give back to the community was a group effort according to Brooke Winkler, clinical therapist for the Day Treatment program. When the decision was made to donate dollars, the team of 14 boys suggested organizations, researched the choices and contacted the nonprofits for directions on how to give the money added Winkler.
WCCAC will use the dollars to help purchase prevention and community education materials according to Deanna Nichols-Stika, executive director at WCCAC. WCCAC serves as a centralized location for interviewing and examining children who are victims of sexual abuse.
"WCCAC is always looking for community partners and volunteers to help reduce the effects of child abuse in the community," said Stika.
The Village Network has worked with sexually reactive adolescents and juvenile sex offenders for over 20 years. The TVN Sexually Reactive and Juvenile Sex Offender programs were the first in Ohio to be certified by the Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS).
Choosing to donate to The Village Network was easy according to the group because of the help they receive through the program. The TVN Day Treatment program is for youth ages 14 to 18-years-old in need of intensive mental health services in conjunction with academic instruction. The average age at the Boys' Village Campus Day Treatment is 16. Many of the youth reside in treatment foster care homes.
The love of animals put the Wayne County Humane Society high on the list. After researching ways to contribute to the organization, the boys decided to secure a wish list and purchase needed items for the shelter. Seventy-five percent of the humane society's budget depends on donations.
The Village Network is a private, nonprofit organization specializing in the treatment and care of troubled and traumatized youth. The Boys' Village Campus is one of 11 networks of care throughout the state offering residential, day treatment, foster care and alternative schooling. Together with families, support agencies and communities, The Village Network treats and prepares youth to embrace new, productive lives. For more information, visit http://www.thevillagenetwork.org/.
Everyday items such as food, cat litter, paper towels and cleaning supplies are always on the wish list at the Wayne County Humane Society. The TVN Day Treatment donation will help offset daily expenses.