Volunteer Vistas for Local Youth
A health and volunteer fair at Monroe-Woodbury High School gave students information about helping themselves and others.
Whooshing down a “seatbelt convincer” that showed the shock of a suddent car stop was Monroe Woodbury High School student Jordan LeBron, outside the school gym on a recent day. The device educates with a seven miles per hour simulator, demonstrating the need for seatbelts to resist propulsion, said New York State Trooper Jason Lewis, hosting the lesson. It jolts convincingly.
Likewise, at tables inside the gym an array of opportunities to improve personal or community health or both were offered by organizations at a health and volunteer fair. Health classes came in waves through the gym each period, roaming, chatting and checking out offerings. Some tables were staffed by health care providers, others by representatives from organizations seeking volunteers. Some organizations offered both. Health teacher Jessica Wright oversaw the event, along with retired Army Civil Affairs Colonel Christopher Holshek and Michael Bark, Orange County Youth Bureau program coordinator.
The event’s volunteer dimension is Holshek’s brainchild, the National Service Ride that brings a group of veterans on motorcycles to noisily announce events that assert the value of civilian volunteer service to bolster community and individual resilience. Holshek and Bark visited the high school health classes in advance of the fair to talk to students about the value of volunteer work for them, as well as the community.
Being helpful is healthful—satisfying and connecting, especially at a time of widespread adolescent loneliness. Research has shown that adolescent volunteerism reduces depression, increases positive emotions and improves health measures, including blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass. When integrated with academic work, grades and test scores tend to improve as well as civic engagement, including voting as adults.
Volunteer Enthusiasts
Some students had already steeped themselves in volunteer service to address their peers’ dilemmas. Liam Gaffney and Anne Mangatt, seniors, both 17, volunteer with a drug and alcohol prevention coalition of teens and adults.
“People need more volunteer opportunities, more than just emergency services,” said Mangatt. “We’re trying to do outreach.”
Gaffney said he first volunteered when he was about 12, making placemats for Meals on Wheels.
“It was eye-opening to help people in the community who couldn’t afford their meals,” he said.
As a freshman, he helped launch the coalition. He is volunteer coordinator, and the group meets monthly with students, adults and state and local police.
“Parents ask what teens experience and what kids can do for peers to help them avoid drugs,” Gaffney said.
“With Covid, there’s been lots of unhealthy coping,” said Mangatt. “more alcohol, drugs, marijuana, ADHD drugs. People already isolated spiraled down mentally and physically. They want the high and numbness.”
“They lose themselves in their own minds,” said Gaffney. “It’s the dark side of Snapchat, used to meet for drugs.”
Now the coalition is working on setting up Narcan trainings at school, “like CPR,” said Mangatt.
“We’re trying to form a youth group to pass on,” said Gaffney, apparently meaning a group who would carry on the coalition’s work after the seniors involved graduate.
Their effort reflects the “sense of purpose” identified by Stanford University researcher William Damon, director of Stanford Center on Adolescence, as important for mental and physical health in adolescence and beyond, which he investigated.
“Purpose requires both a personal desire to accomplish something meaningful to the self and a commitment to take the actions needed to do so. Some people struggle because they feel their lives are full of obligatory actions that have no personal meaning,” Damon said in a 2015 interview. “Others struggle because they have trouble developing an action plan they can commit to. These difficulties can arise at any age, but young people in particular may struggle with them – some if they feel forced to engage in activities that lack meaning and others because they have not yet learned how to follow up aspirations with appropriate actions.”
Swag to Soup Kitchens
Students come to the fair with a variety of needs and interests, Michael Bark, of Orange County Youth Bureau, pointed out. He provides a volunteer portal where they can find volunteer opportunities and record their hours.
“Some are looking for free swag here. Some know what they want,” he said. “Some need volunteer hours. Some need work experience.”
In addition to fire and ambulance emergency services, Bark said, among the possibilities are equine therapy, Orange County Arts and Film Councils, animal shelters, soup kitchens, warming stations, homebound veterans and internships with county departments.
“The sewer department involves environmental science,” said Bark.
At the table for Winslow Therapeutic Center, for therapeutic riding, Stacy Lenz, who runs their youth leadership group, said she saw a “lull” in volunteering in the past year, but now interest is reviving.
“I was a volunteer 18 years ago. That was a more active generation compared to this social media generation,” she said. “They’re less interested in getting out in the community. But the youth volunteers put their whole heart in it.”
They offer week-long veteran programs and programs for adults and teens with disabilities.
At another table, Shawn Graham, with Monroe Volunteer Ambulance, said, “It’s hard to get paid workers. It’s harder to get volunteers.”
But elsewhere in the gym, student Nicholas Allapat said he had volunteered for two years with Monroe Ambulance.
“I like helping people. It’s good experience. When I get EMT certification, I’ll get paid,” he said.
His friend Shane Lauterbach said he was looking for something to do and was considering ambulance work. “Maybe eventually I can work on ski slopes.”
A group of girls nearby talked about their volunteer interests.
“We just like to help,” said one.
Among their efforts are volunteering at Monroe Free Library, helping with community events through the Interact Club, helping teach dance classes.
Near the Garnet Health Center table, Emily Frias, 18, said she helped patients in various ways in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Garnet Health Medical Center, whether with paperwork or giving “scrubs” to expectant fathers.
“They accommodate you,” said Frias of Garnet, noting that she plans to study biology in college to prepare for pre-med or physician’s assistant training.
Her friend Danielle Rush, 18, said she was thinking about volunteering with Garnet, wanting to “meet people and help out,” which she did previously in other volunteer efforts with the Town of Monroe and with Fearless!, an organization that addresses domestic violence.
“I learned what happens with domestic violence reports and how to help victims,” she said.
April Alvarado, at the Garnet table, is a volunteer service coordinator.
“We take volunteers who are 15 to 16. That’s a good age,” she said. “They help transport patients and work with clerks.”
Garnet has 250 volunteers, and 75 are from high schools, she said.
“The fair gives students opportunities to connect with opportunities,” said Jessica Wright, health teacher and fair organizer. “They may need volunteer hours or want to volunteer. And they learned about wellness services.”
They learned about family services, group and individual counseling, Fearless! for domestic violence, teen yoga and meditation, she said. “They were excited to see how many opportunities there were.”
Christopher Holshek, initiator of the volunteer effort in schools as a way to strengthen youth and communities, said that “400 people may have gone through the fair—a small number relative to the school population. But the health class strategy is as good as any. I saw enthusiasm. The teachers did a good job talking to kids mulling around, encouraging them to talk to everyone. The proof will be in the data.”
The data will appear in the Orange County Youth Bureau volunteer portal, where students can record their volunteer hours.