VOICE celebrates a summer helping others

The Youth and Family Services’ summer VOICE and SVP program, a volunteer camp for Island high school and middle school students, commemorated the end of another “great” summer, said program leader Michelle Morse. More than 300 volunteers contributed to projects as varied as making sandwiches for Northwest Harvest, delivering books to King County prisoners and volunteering at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. Two-hundred and thirty volunteers were from Mercer Island High School (working in the VOICE — Volunteer Opportunities in Communities Everywhere — program) and 80 students were from Islander Middle School (working in the SVP — Summer Volunteer Program).

By Reporter Staff • August 25, 2009 2:49 pm
Corey Goelz
Corey Goelz

The Youth and Family Services’ summer VOICE and SVP program, a volunteer camp for Island high school and middle school students, commemorated the end of another “great” summer, said program leader Michelle Morse. More than 300 volunteers contributed to projects as varied as making sandwiches for Northwest Harvest, delivering books to King County prisoners and volunteering at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. Two-hundred and thirty volunteers were from Mercer Island High School (working in the VOICE — Volunteer Opportunities in Communities Everywhere — program) and 80 students were from Islander Middle School (working in the SVP — Summer Volunteer Program).

“This summer was great because we could finally accept everyone [who signed up] for the first time,” Morse said, adding that the students fulfilled six to eight community projects per day.

The VOICE and SVP summer program appreciation potluck was held at the Community Center last week. Teenage volunteers and their families gathered to celebrate the end of yet another summer of giving back to the community.

For more information on VOICE and SVP, call Michelle Morris at 265-7756.