By Dr. Ferrell Miller
JC Breakfast Opimist Club
On April 30 the JC Breakfast Optimist Club met at the Hampton Inn in Junction City and made donations to the Girl Scouts and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Each group receipt two hundred dollars to help them continue their work with youth.
Girl Scouts: Ellen Westerhaus represented the local Girl Scouts and told the Optimists that one of the goals of the Girl Scouts is to get young girls involved in activities in the community. Current Girl Scouts have recently helped with donating 150 pounds of food to the Food Pantry; sold Girl Scout cookies; helped serve at a community Easter dinner; had a float in the Christmas Parade; had a presence at the USD 475 Back To School Bash and created baby baskets for newborns at Irwin Army Hospital and Stormant Vail Hospital.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters: Michelle Sink has been with Big Brothers/Big Sisters for 5 years. This organization received two hundred dollars for their work in matching a younger youth with an 18 year or older. Some youth need a mentor or someone outside the family to spend time with them and be another adult in their lives who cares. “Bigs” (as they are called) are people who can have been vetted by the Big Brothers/Big Sisters staff. This process includes having a driver’s license, passing a background check, having watched a training video, completing a one-to-two-hour interview with the staff of the organization, made a home visit, met the family of the “Little”, the parent/guardian, and the“Little” and the “Big” are comfortable with each other.
The JC Breakfast Optimist Club has supported both the Girl Scouts and Big Brothers/ Big Sisters for many years. Anyone interested in learning more about both groups may now view today’s meeting on the JC Breakfast Optimist Club’s Facebook page.