St. Charles aldermen fund creative youth projects

Every year St. Charles issues a challenge to the city’s youth to identify a problem their peers face and find a constructive way to address that issue. On Monday, aldermen handed out a total of $2,000 to support four youth-inspired projects.

More than half the projects are based in St. Charles Unit District 303 schools:

Members of the Builders Club at Wredling Middle School will begin a new program to promote a positive form of peer pressure among the students. Recognition of students who do something positive will fuel the peer pressure. Aldermen voted to fund the program with $500 to help pay for the awards.

At Thompson Middle School, the Team 7-1 organization will create a “Day of Service” geared toward promoting physical activity and an overall healthy lifestyle. Aldermen agreed to provide $600 of funding for the program.

At Richmond Intermediate School, Girl Scout Troop No. 4352 wants to encourage environmental stewardship by starting a new plastic bottle recycling program at the school. Aldermen voted to kick-start the project with a $400 grant.

The final project to receive funding is also rooted in local Girl Scout activities:

Abigail Miller plans to use the $500 aldermen gave her Monday night to create the “Operation Home Away From Home” program at Delnor Community Hospital. The program will provide comforting packages to any child admitted to the pediatrics wing of the hospital.

All of the projects were initially screened by the city’s 10-member Youth Commission.

Funds: Service day, care packages for sick children among the projects