Eckerd Seeks Community Support To Better A Child’s Life

By  //  December 28, 2013

Give Back To Your Community

Eckerds-595
Locally, Eckerd provides direct services to youth through the Hi-Five Program, which provides substance abuse prevention education and early life-management skills training to students predominantly in Title I schools. (Eckerd image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — As individuals are making plans for their 2014 New Year’s resolutions, they may consider making a new type of resolution: to better themselves…by helping others.

Couple giving two young children piggyback rides smiling
This time of year, people often think of how they can better themselves. They think of dieting, exercising or kicking a bad habit. They should consider a new resolution; an act that not only helps them, but also helps others. There are many vulnerable and at-risk children in the community who are at a crossroad in their lives and are contemplating which way to go. Some roads lead to violence, substance abuse, or crime. (Shutterstock image)

This time of year, people often think of how they can better themselves. They think of dieting, exercising or kicking a bad habit. They should consider a new resolution; an act that not only helps them, but also helps others.

There are many vulnerable and at-risk children in the community who are at a crossroad in their lives and are contemplating which way to go. Some roads lead to violence, substance abuse, or crime.

Other roads lead to education, citizenship and a successful career.

Many of these children facing life-changing decisions had difficult upbringings filled with negative role models, abuse and neglect from their caregivers, or bullying by their peers.

CHILDREN NEED SOMEONE POSITIVE

The individuals surrounding a child have a tremendous influence on the path they choose. This is why children need someone positive in their lives that will show them unconditional love and provide a positive example.

Eckerd is one of many organizations in our community looking for volunteers who want to make a difference.

Registration for summer camp has opened at the Palm Bay Community Center. (Shutterstock image)
The individuals surrounding a child have a tremendous influence on the path they choose. (Shutterstock image)

Eckerd, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is one of the nation’s leading providers of services for at-risk youths and their families.

Locally, Eckerd provides direct services to youth through the Hi-Five Program, which provides substance abuse prevention education and early life-management skills training to students predominantly in Title I schools.

These schools are those that usually have higher rates of free and reduced lunches. The Hi-Five program also conducts family nights which include training sessions for parents on the prevention curriculum used with their children.

“Above the Influence” (abovetheinfluence.org) and SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) “Talk They Hear You” have been the highly successful campaigns also utilized by Eckerd to help the youths and parents, respectively, in our local community.

RAISING HOPE PROJECT

As part of its Raising Hope project, this local Eckerd program has currently been providing families in need with clothing, food, and basic necessities of life.

The Brevard Schools Foundation is recruiting volunteer mentors for the Take Stock in Children program. (Shutterstock image)
Children need someone positive in their lives that will show them unconditional love and provide a positive example. (Shutterstock image)

So far in the month of December 2013, Eckerd was able to provide gifts and needed supplies to 62 families.

In cooperation with the food project in north Brevard County, as well as dedicated volunteers,

Eckerd has helped feed approximately 25 children a week. This effort has been spearheaded by Mike King, Eckerd Prevention Coordinator at Coquina Elementary School, with the invaluable help of several dedicated volunteers and donors.

Eckerd will never stop doing its best to help all of those in need. But to continue doing so, they need community support. One way you can help is by coming to the Village Inn at 2925 Washington Ave. (US 1) in Titusville on January 27, 2014 between 5pm and 8pm.

The restaurant is donating 20% of each meal check that night to support Eckerd’s effort to help the struggling families of Brevard.

“For just a little of what many of us take for granted each day, we can do something to give back to our community” said Stanley Brizz, Director for Eckerd Prevention and Family Services.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be monetary, it could just be a little of your time.”

SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

These are some simple ways to make a difference in a child’s life:

“For just a little of what many of us take for granted each day, we can do something to give back to our community” said Stanley Brizz, Director for Eckerd Prevention and Family Services. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be monetary, it could just be a little of your time.”

You could possibly mentor a child. Mentoring a child can be one of the most rewarding things

Another possibility is to volunteer at a local non-profit. There are many non-profits in the community that Serve on an organization’s advisory council.

Advisory council members give advice an individual will ever do and will help shape a child’s future for the better by empowering the youth to achieve. They are working tirelessly to help children and they need volunteers to help reach more youth and advocate for non-profit organizations, as well as provide a critical link from the organization to the community.

These are just a few examples of New Year’s resolutions that individuals can make to better a child’s life… As well as their own.

MENTORING AND VOLUNTEERING EMPOWERS PEOPLE

Mentors and volunteers often find that the person who benefits most from the relationship is themselves.

volunteer-180Mentoring and volunteering empowers people to recognize their abilities, provides opportunity for training, and supports the volunteer’s own growth and development. It provides a fascinating link to other industries or businesses.

It can expand a person’s network of professional colleagues and increase recognition for their service to the community. And it provides the personal satisfaction of knowing they made a difference in a child’s life.

For individuals looking for an impactful New Year’s Resolution to better their self and help others call 321-253-0032.  For more information on Eckerd services, please visit Eckerd.org