Join Hands Day 2008 was a huge success.  Beginning at 8am at City Park in downtown Ottawa, 39 volunteers representing Youth Action Council, Youth in Government, Teen Court, Ottawa University, and Wal-Mart Transportation, quickly began work on 4 unique projects, one of which was a first for the ECKAN Volunteer Center.

Youth in Government members, and volunteer adult drivers, canvassed the city and delivered 160 letters from the City of Ottawa regarding an absence of address numbers.  In so doing, these youth hoped to encourage residents to apply numbers to allow for emergency personnel to find their home more readily. Youth Action Council members were kept busy at Lincoln Elementary School providing childcare for siblings of children Participating in the Franklin County Free Health Screenings.  Ottawa  University   students   enthusiastically   cared  for  the  7

children of Nich and Natalie Devin who were able to work together at their Habitat for Humanity home.  Working alongside Nich and Natalie were our volunteers from Wal-Mart and Teen Court.   They were able

to paint a majority of the interior of the home to get the family one step closer to home ownership.  Special thank you to Modern Woodman of America for providing our continental breakfast.

The evening event of this year’s  Join  Hands Day activities was

no less than spectacular.   86  guests  and  volunteers  made their

way into  the Hawaiian  luau created  in Washburn Towers Civic

Center.  Youth volunteers from ECKAN’s Youth Action Council

and Youth in Government programs,  as well as volunteers from

the Ottawa  Girls  Club,  served  their senior  guests a wonderful

meal and dessert at no cost to the seniors.  Following the meal and social hour, the seniors were treated to some of Ottawa and the surrounding area’s best young  talent  in  the  form  of  a  Teen  Variety  Show.   Youth Action Council and Youth in Government member Amy Barnes coordinated a 13 act Variety show for the seniors listening and viewing pleasure.  Local youth sang, played piano and/or guitar, provided comic relief, danced, and overall impressed the seniors with their willingness to perform.  Special thank you to Dale Moore of Wal-Mart Transportation for coordinating all of the sound equipment for the evening’s performances.  It was an unforgettable night!

Today’s events marked a great partnership between Ottawa youth and adults.  Thank you to all of our outstanding volunteers who truly made a difference in our community!