New York Learn and Serve Grant

Thanks to a New York State Learn and Serve grant for the 2003-2004 school year, Byron-Bergen students in grades 7-12 are being trained as American Red Cross emergency shelter volunteers. Over eighty students attended an after-school informational meeting about the project, and twenty-one have participated in leadership training at the Genesee County Youth Bureau.

Senior Dana DeSerio and sophomore Jim Eick served on the initial planning team which also included representatives from the Genesee County Sheriff's Department, Byron Fire Department, Red Cross, Student Government, and Kids for the Community. The HERO (Helping out in Emergencies, Reaching out to Others) grant seeks to involve a number of middle and high school students in an authentic service project and to make many others aware of the community service opportunities that exist at Byron-Bergen schools.

Team captains dubbed the student group "BBERT" for Byron-Bergen Emergency Response Team. Each of seven teams provides training for student volunteers in child care, communications, elder care, first aid, food preparation, logistics, and reception responsibilities. Students hope to conduct a drill once their training is complete.

Todd Isaman is the project director. Byron-Bergen resident and Genesee County Red Cross Executive Director Judy Nagel is a partner for the project. Debbie Kerr-Rosenbeck and Jocelyn Sikorski of the Youth Bureau conducted leadership training.

by Loren Penman, Byron-Bergen Director of Learning