FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Funding for Youth Volunteer Summer Service Program gives our youngest community members more opportunities to become engaged in their communities and make volunteerism a lifelong habit. It is with great pleasure to announce that Morning Star Baptist Church is a recipient of the Youth Volunteer Summer Service Grant for 2025. Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) is a network of affiliated organizations across the U.S. and Canada running the same program by engaging youth ages 11-18 in team-based, structured, diverse, and flexible service-learning opportunities. This program is offer to students in 7-12th grades to engage in volunteer opportunities. The four fundamental goals of YVC are to: 1. Engage teams of youth in volunteer service projects that are challenging, rewarding and educational. 2. Serve the needs of the community. 3. Promote a greater understanding and appreciation for diversity in their community. 4. Inspire youth to a lifetime ethic of service. During YVC meetings, students discuss and identify needs that are unique to their individual communities and plan service projects to address those needs. The YVC allow students a fun and convenient way to accrue service hours to receive the Community Service Diploma Endorsement offered by the Louisiana Department of Education. YVC affiliates are hosted by credible nonprofit organizations, or are independent YVC programs. Each YVC program looks a little different depending on the host organization and the local community, but they all implement the same program model and receive ongoing support and resources from YVC Headquarters. This project is funded by a Youth Volunteer Summer Service Grant from The Rapides Foundation and Morning Star Baptist Church has been award the amount of $5,000 over four months beginning May 1, 2025, and ending August 31, 2025. For more details about the program and how to sign up you can follow us on Facebook@morningstar.170 and check our website at https://morningstar170.churchtrac.com. You can also feel free to reach out with any initial questions or to express interest at Morningstarbaptistchurch170@gmail.com or contact Mrs. Monique Sarpy or Mrs. Cynthia Robinson at 318-471-5782.