Youth Club is All About Community Serviceby Sandi Fahy
Photo by SANDI FAHY CLEARWATER - Families residing at Grace House received a special gift on May 3. Thanks to a group of young students, each of the households received a brand new bookcase filled with books for children of all ages. There were also some books for their parents as well. The donors, members of a community service group called Club Save, collected over 1,000 books for the project. A grant awarded to Club Save from Pinellas County Youth Development and 4-H helped pay for the bookcases. Grace House, which is operated by Religious Community Services, provides shelter for homeless families with children for up to two months. One on one counseling and guidance is offered to help residents save money in order to live on their own. In the meantime, they are provided a furnished apartment, food, clothing and household goods. Club Save, whose purpose is to help others in the community, was founded last fall by Grace Boudreau, a fifth grade student at Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary School. Grace, who invited fellow students interested in doing something for the community to join the group, scheduled meetings after school. It wasn't long before its 4th and 5th grade members started and completed their first project. In November of last year, the youngsters delivered 30 bags and boxes containing new and nearly new clothing and shoes to Clothes to Kids, Inc. in Clearwater. They embarked on their "Books on the Shelves" project in January. What's next on the agenda for these enterprising youngsters? The club is considering a beautification project in the Tarpon Springs area this summer, Grace advised earlier this week.
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