Brandon Twp.- Fred Morden is spreading the word? Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance needs help.
‘We’ve lost a lot of funding because of the economy and our sponsors cutting back,? said Morden, BGYA caseworker. ‘We’re trying to get more volunteers for the programs, more people involved with the board, with specific committees, or those who are just concerned with what is going on in the community and want to be more involved.?
BGYA exists to help area youth and their families. As a part-time caseworker, Morden counsels troubled youngsters and gives referrals. BGYA services for which volunteers are needed include Mentors Plus? in which children are matched to adult mentors and STARS, an after-school tutoring program.
Morden is also looking for committee members for the annual Youth Recognition Awards ceremony in March, Adopt-a-Camper in the summer, and to coordinate year-round family education programs. He will soon travel to schools in the district, giving a powerpoint presentation on BGYA, as well as to the Ortonville Village Council, and the Brandon Township and Groveland Township boards. BGYA has tri-sponsorship’Oakland County pays Morden’s caseworker salary; the school district provides office space for BGYA and the municipalities provide monies for operational costs through Community Development Block Grant funds.
However, volunteers are the heart of BGYA.
‘We need volunteers with new ideas,? Morden said. ?92 percent of the kids seen by a BGYA caseworker have no other contact with the court system. Our main goal is to keep kids out of the court system, and offer counseling and support. If we can keep them out of the courts, we are successful.? For more information on how you can help, call 248-627-6445.