Katina Kooi, Executive Director of the Youth Service Bureau, will talk about the 2020 grant project funded by the Springfield Rotary Foundation and how the pandemic has impacted their programs. The Youth Service Bureau is a licensed Child Welfare Agency that has been serving at-risk youth and their families for over 40 years. The agency provides services to young people between 11 and 24 years of age that are abused, neglected, runaways, or otherwise homeless. Their service area includes the counties of Sangamon, Menard, Mason, Logan, and Christian. Many of the client families do not qualify for food assistance programs but are below the poverty level. Hardships and needs are particularly acute because of the Covid-19 pandemic and associated unemployment. The grant was awarded to purchase food for some of the families who are in crisis and the older homeless youth population, and to help stock the recently established community food pantry on their property with nonperishable foods for those in need. November 16, 2020 Meeting Speaker
Katina Kooi, Executive Director of the Youth Service Bureau, will talk about the 2020 grant project funded by the Springfield Rotary Foundation and how the pandemic has impacted their programs. The Youth Service Bureau is a licensed Child Welfare Agency that has been serving at-risk youth and their families for over 40 years. The agency provides services to young people between 11 and 24 years of age that are abused, neglected, runaways, or otherwise homeless. Their service area includes the counties of Sangamon, Menard, Mason, Logan, and Christian. Many of the client families do not qualify for food assistance programs but are below the poverty level. Hardships and needs are particularly acute because of the Covid-19 pandemic and associated unemployment. The grant was awarded to purchase food for some of the families who are in crisis and the older homeless youth population, and to help stock the recently established community food pantry on their property with nonperishable foods for those in need.