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The Hannibal teens participating in the Kids in Motion summer pre-employment program do many service projects at local agencies and parks, including nursing homes, and some of the recipients also give back by hosting fund-raisers. One such event was a spaghetti dinner Friday, Jan. 27, served by residents at Willow Care Center.
“For several years Willow Care has adopted our program,” said KIM Program Director Amy Vaughn. “Since we help them with projects - we paint residents’ fingernails, play games such as bingo and do outside work at the facility, planting flowers - they want to help the program. ... The staff participated and community members, nursing home visitors and some of the residents, who chose to donate instead of having the meal planned there.
“They have several fund-raisers each year, specifically designed to give back to the KIM program, and they sponsor a child with the money raised,” Vaughn continued. “I’d like to thank Willow Care for all they do.”
This is just one of several fund-raisers to finance the 2012 KIM program. The students do many projects during their two-month summer program, Vaughn said, and they continue with community service projects throughout the school year. “The way they learn is through serving others.” This year the age of eligibility has been changed from 12 to 15 to include students from middle school until age 15.
Some KIM kids are reluctant to leave the program behind, Vaughn added. “I’ve been impressed with the number of kids who have ‘graduated’ from the program but who still want to be a part of the program and volunteer to help with school year projects.”
Since the KIM program was founded by Douglass Community Services in 1996, it has expanded from Hannibal to include youth in Louisiana and Bowling Green, “and we hope to expand in the future,” Vaughn said. In 2011 it had a total of 100 students, including 55 in Hannibal, 23 in Louisiana and 22 in Bowling Green.
“We apply for no government funding and rely heavily on the support of private foundations, individual donations and fund-raising efforts,” she said. KIM is a United Way recipient.
During the summer, Vaughn said, “the kids learn work ethics and responsibility and are prepared to successfully enter the work force.” In addition to helping at nursing homes, the teens “do clean-up in local parks, water plants in the historic district, help with food distribution and stuff backpacks for the back-to-school fair.
“The average direct cost per child is $500,” she said. Students may receive money through a monetary incentive. “It is tied directly to a daily evaluation given by their supervisors, based on their attitude and performance for the day. The better their attitude and the higher they perform, the more money they can earn. ... Initially, what we see is kids doing well to earn the most money possible. However, once they realize their true capabilities and potential, it becomes about so much more than the money.”
And “since the kids earn money, we always incorporate money management training,” Vaughn said. “The way I describe it to the kids is, ‘When you have a job you have training,’ and we provide training on things that are relevant to our mission. That mission is to teach the value of work, to value their community and to value their future.”
The application process for 2012 will begin in April, she said. “We have a selection committee that targets kids who need the program the most.” Information will be announced in the Courier-Post and school bulletins, and applications will be on the web site hannibalkidsinmotion.com. Also, “we are on Facebook and are close to 700 fans,” she said.
KIM donations may be made to Kids in Motion, 711 Grand Ave., Hannibal, MO. 63401. Donations should designate whether they are for Hannibal, Bowling Green or Louisiana. For details call Vaughn at (573) 221-3892, Ext. 246.
“This is a community-based program, and we couldn’t do it without people who help us with the projects, lead workshops and training and support us financially,” Vaughn emphasized. “It really does take a village to raise a child.”
One upcoming fund-raiser is the 5k run/walk, Catch Cupid If You Can, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, in Riverview Park, sponsored by the Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department. The cost is $10 for youth 12 and under; $20 for adults, $30 for couples and $40 for a family of up to four people. Preregistration has been completed, and the packet pickup will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. Feb. 10, or Feb. 11 at the Parks & Recreation office in city hall. Registration will also begin at 9 a.m. at the park. “We have some great raffle prizes donated,” Vaughn said. More information is at www.hannibalparks.org/programs-events/.
In summer 2011, KIM kids had car window washes to raise funds for Joplin, Mo., tornado relief, Vaughn said. In all three KIM cities, a total of $1,000 was raised. “After the kids raised the money, we took them shopping and they purchased supplies. ... One group bought baby items and another bought cleaning supplies,” she said. “They figured out on their calculators how much money they had to spend. It was very hands-on. ... “It was pretty significant for the kids, (learning) how to give back to others.
“That is what is so impressive about our program, not only are we helping the kids learn good work ethics and job skills, but we are training them to give back to others in the sense of community. The sense of pride that they develop is incredible. They know they are making a difference.”
The Hannibal teens participating in the Kids in Motion summer pre-employment program do many service projects at local agencies and parks, including nursing homes, and some of the recipients also give back by hosting fund-raisers. One such event was a spaghetti dinner Friday, Jan. 27, served by residents at Willow Care Center.
“For several years Willow Care has adopted our program,” said KIM Program Director Amy Vaughn. “Since we help them with projects - we paint residents’ fingernails, play games such as bingo and do outside work at the facility, planting flowers - they want to help the program. ... The staff participated and community members, nursing home visitors and some of the residents, who chose to donate instead of having the meal planned there.
“They have several fund-raisers each year, specifically designed to give back to the KIM program, and they sponsor a child with the money raised,” Vaughn continued. “I’d like to thank Willow Care for all they do.”
This is just one of several fund-raisers to finance the 2012 KIM program. The students do many projects during their two-month summer program, Vaughn said, and they continue with community service projects throughout the school year. “The way they learn is through serving others.” This year the age of eligibility has been changed from 12 to 15 to include students from middle school until age 15.
Some KIM kids are reluctant to leave the program behind, Vaughn added. “I’ve been impressed with the number of kids who have ‘graduated’ from the program but who still want to be a part of the program and volunteer to help with school year projects.”
Since the KIM program was founded by Douglass Community Services in 1996, it has expanded from Hannibal to include youth in Louisiana and Bowling Green, “and we hope to expand in the future,” Vaughn said. In 2011 it had a total of 100 students, including 55 in Hannibal, 23 in Louisiana and 22 in Bowling Green.
“We apply for no government funding and rely heavily on the support of private foundations, individual donations and fund-raising efforts,” she said. KIM is a United Way recipient.
During the summer, Vaughn said, “the kids learn work ethics and responsibility and are prepared to successfully enter the work force.” In addition to helping at nursing homes, the teens “do clean-up in local parks, water plants in the historic district, help with food distribution and stuff backpacks for the back-to-school fair.
“The average direct cost per child is $500,” she said. Students may receive money through a monetary incentive. “It is tied directly to a daily evaluation given by their supervisors, based on their attitude and performance for the day. The better their attitude and the higher they perform, the more money they can earn. ... Initially, what we see is kids doing well to earn the most money possible. However, once they realize their true capabilities and potential, it becomes about so much more than the money.”
And “since the kids earn money, we always incorporate money management training,” Vaughn said. “The way I describe it to the kids is, ‘When you have a job you have training,’ and we provide training on things that are relevant to our mission. That mission is to teach the value of work, to value their community and to value their future.”
The application process for 2012 will begin in April, she said. “We have a selection committee that targets kids who need the program the most.” Information will be announced in the Courier-Post and school bulletins, and applications will be on the web site hannibalkidsinmotion.com. Also, “we are on Facebook and are close to 700 fans,” she said.
KIM donations may be made to Kids in Motion, 711 Grand Ave., Hannibal, MO. 63401. Donations should designate whether they are for Hannibal, Bowling Green or Louisiana. For details call Vaughn at (573) 221-3892, Ext. 246.
“This is a community-based program, and we couldn’t do it without people who help us with the projects, lead workshops and training and support us financially,” Vaughn emphasized. “It really does take a village to raise a child.”
One upcoming fund-raiser is the 5k run/walk, Catch Cupid If You Can, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, in Riverview Park, sponsored by the Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department. The cost is $10 for youth 12 and under; $20 for adults, $30 for couples and $40 for a family of up to four people. Preregistration has been completed, and the packet pickup will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. Feb. 10, or Feb. 11 at the Parks & Recreation office in city hall. Registration will also begin at 9 a.m. at the park. “We have some great raffle prizes donated,” Vaughn said. More information is at www.hannibalparks.org/programs-events/.
In summer 2011, KIM kids had car window washes to raise funds for Joplin, Mo., tornado relief, Vaughn said. In all three KIM cities, a total of $1,000 was raised. “After the kids raised the money, we took them shopping and they purchased supplies. ... One group bought baby items and another bought cleaning supplies,” she said. “They figured out on their calculators how much money they had to spend. It was very hands-on. ... “It was pretty significant for the kids, (learning) how to give back to others.
“That is what is so impressive about our program, not only are we helping the kids learn good work ethics and job skills, but we are training them to give back to others in the sense of community. The sense of pride that they develop is incredible. They know they are making a difference.”
