Boys & Girls Club teens understand what it means to give back. In 2007, close to 400 teens completed over 11,500 hours of community service with 63 different agencies! The vehicle by which these teens participate in community service is through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County's Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) program. The goal of this program is to create and increase volunteer opportunities that enrich the youth of Indian River County, address community needs and develop lifetime commitments to service.

Regular YVC volunteer and 2006 Volunteer of the Year Stephen Ronan, age 15, believes community service is important. "I like volunteering because I am dedicated to helping my community. It makes me feel good to hear the words 'thank you' and 'we couldn't have done it without you,'" said Stephen.

In 2007, the helping hands and caring hearts of teens like Stephen were seen at Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society, Relay for Life, Samaritan Center, Indian River Land Trust, Sun Up of Indian River County and many other organizations in our community.

"Thank you all so very much for making a difference in the lives of families in need in our community by volunteering your time at Habitat for Humanity's home building site. We look forward to seeing you volunteer at our next site," said Habitat for Humanity Assistant Operations Manager Carrie Rossman.

Not only does the Boys & Girls Clubs' YVC program aim to increase the number of teen volunteers in our community, it also teaches them the importance of making a long-term commitment to service. Many YVC teens do not just participate in one service project for two or three hours, but are active on a monthly, if not weekly basis, devoting hundreds of hours to the betterment of our community. One example is Vero Beach Boys & Girls Club member Ashley Edwards, who was recently recognized as the 2007 Volunteer of the Year for devoting 485 hours of her time to service.

The passion Boys & Girls Clubs teens have to serve others has not waned in 2008. In fact 163 teens have already completed close to 1,700 hours of service, compared to 118 teens completing 1,200 hours this time last year.

During April, Florida Volunteer Month, YVC urges teens and all citizens to give back. Whether it's mentoring a child, feeding the homeless, or cleaning up our beaches, even just one hour spent volunteering can have a profound impact on our community.

YVC projects available to teens during the month of April include the Hibiscus Festival, Dog Kidz, Sebastian Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity 5k Race and much more. Teens who are interested in participating in YVC and organizations who would like the assistance of YVC teens can contact the Boys & Girls Clubs Teen Center at 772-778-7442.

The Youth Volunteer Corps program is led by Boys & Girls Clubs Teen Center/YVC Director Dan Andonian and a professional staff of dedicated Team Leaders. "I couldn't imagine a better way to spend my time as we strive to make sure that the teens of Indian River County get involved and go on to do great things in their lives," said Team Leader Brian Smith.

The YVC community service program is just one of the many valuable programs the Boys & Girls Clubs provides to its Club members. Others include, education and career development; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and character and leadership development.

The Boys & Girls Clubs has three clubhouse locations in Indian River County, one in Sebastian and two in Vero Beach, and serves over 2,000 kids annually. Plans also call for expanding into Fellsmere.

The top priority of the Boys & Girls Clubs is helping kids succeed in school and in life.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County is a United Way and Children's Services Advisory Committee agency.

For more information on the Boys & Girls Clubs, please call (772) 299-7449.