Our website says we love our community, and our actions confirm this statement. One of our favorite ways to support local organizations is our token program. Any time you use a reusable bag instead of one of our plastic or paper bags, we give you a token to place in one of three containers. Each token is worth three to five cents and counts as a donation to the organization you choose. Together, we get to help a charity and reduce waste! Everyone wins! You may have noticed a new organization appear as part of the program: Chasing Hope. Let’s learn a little about this brand new philanthropic team made up of five young ladies from Worthington Hills.
From left to right: Sammie Zimmerman, Amelia Sampson, Sammy Crozier, Kayla Sayer, Haley Carlson
Hills: Tell us about Chasing Hope.
Chasing Hope: We are a non-profit organization that helps the YWCA Family Center in every way we can. Every month we hold different social events to raise money. We also volunteer at the shelter by making crafts and playing games with the kids.
Hills: Tell us about Chasing Hope.
Chasing Hope: We are a non-profit organization that helps the YWCA Family Center in every way we can. Every month we hold different social events to raise money. We also volunteer at the shelter by making crafts and playing games with the kids.
Hills: How did you come up with this idea?
Sammy Crozier: We read an article about the YWCA Family Center being filled to capacity with families. They have room from 50 families but in October, they had around 80. Together, we thought of Chasing Hope. Our first meeting actually last close to six hours. We talked about different ways we could raise money, different event ideas and what we could do to help around the shelter. So far, it's been working and we hope it does until we graduate. Our goal is to raise $10,700 total and to have around 100 members by the end of 2011.
Hills: Tell us about your experiences at the shelter.
CH: When we volunteer at the shelter, we sit and play with the kids of all ages. Their parents stick around and play games or make crafts if we have with them. They all tell us stories and different things about their lives. It really is an amazing feeling to see a kid smile even though they're going through a hard time. Sometimes, if they're still at the shelter when we visit the next time, some of the kids recognize us which is just completely exciting to know that they remember someone they only spent an hour with a couple weeks ago.
Hills: How do you raise money?
CH: Every month we have social events for our members. To become a member, it's a $25 membership fee and then it's a $10 event fee. Besides our members, we have sponsors (who donate around $50-$100) and Hope Ropes. A Hope Rope is a paper link that we sell a dollar each. All of the money we raise goes straight to the shelter.
Hills: Can you tell us your favorite part of the organization so far?
Sammy Crozier: My favorite part is talking to the kids at the shelter and seeing them smile and have a good time when we visit.
Haley Carlson: I enjoy seeing the kids laugh and have fun with us and each other. They’re making memories even when they're not in a very good time in their lives.
Sammie ZImmerman: I love everything about Chasing Hope, the volunteering and the events.
Learn more about Chasing Hope here.
Sammy Crozier: We read an article about the YWCA Family Center being filled to capacity with families. They have room from 50 families but in October, they had around 80. Together, we thought of Chasing Hope. Our first meeting actually last close to six hours. We talked about different ways we could raise money, different event ideas and what we could do to help around the shelter. So far, it's been working and we hope it does until we graduate. Our goal is to raise $10,700 total and to have around 100 members by the end of 2011.
Hills: Tell us about your experiences at the shelter.
CH: When we volunteer at the shelter, we sit and play with the kids of all ages. Their parents stick around and play games or make crafts if we have with them. They all tell us stories and different things about their lives. It really is an amazing feeling to see a kid smile even though they're going through a hard time. Sometimes, if they're still at the shelter when we visit the next time, some of the kids recognize us which is just completely exciting to know that they remember someone they only spent an hour with a couple weeks ago.
Hills: How do you raise money?
CH: Every month we have social events for our members. To become a member, it's a $25 membership fee and then it's a $10 event fee. Besides our members, we have sponsors (who donate around $50-$100) and Hope Ropes. A Hope Rope is a paper link that we sell a dollar each. All of the money we raise goes straight to the shelter.
Hills: Can you tell us your favorite part of the organization so far?
Sammy Crozier: My favorite part is talking to the kids at the shelter and seeing them smile and have a good time when we visit.
Haley Carlson: I enjoy seeing the kids laugh and have fun with us and each other. They’re making memories even when they're not in a very good time in their lives.
Sammie ZImmerman: I love everything about Chasing Hope, the volunteering and the events.
Learn more about Chasing Hope here.