ARCYC gets Combat Center children involved

Photo By Cpl. Thomas Mudd | Dyani Felicianes, member, American Red Cross Youth Club, sells baked treats to Combat Center patrons at the Lincoln Military Housing athletic field May 7, 2016. The club, run by student members, holds charity events to show members the importance of giving back to the community. Fifty-five percent of the proceeds from each event go toward charity and the remaining is donated to the American Red Cross. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Thomas Mudd/Released)  

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

05.12.2016

Story by Cpl. Connor Hancock 

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.— The American Red Cross Youth Club has been providing Combat Center youth with an opportunity to learn confidence, team work and leadership, through career days, training services, and charity events.
ARCYC’s Homework Helper Club provides students with a supportive environment to catch up on school assignments. The club meets every Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Village Center, where older students encourage and tutor younger scholars.
“A lot of tutoring is done by older students who have grade point averages as high as 4.0,” said Nguyet Gold, director, ARCYC. “They are viewed as role models for the younger children.”
The club, run by student members, holds charity events to show members the importance of giving back to the community. Fifty-five percent of the proceeds from each event go toward charity and the remaining is donated to the American Red Cross.
“We host yard sales and bake sales to raise money for holidays, the homeless and orphans,” Gold said. “The students are focused and always want to give back.”
Career day is a program the ARCYC hosts which features Combat Center professionals, who answer questions about their jobs and give children insight on future job opportunities. Children shadow employees and learn about different careers first hand. The career days are hosted based on the availability of volunteering professionals.
According to many club members, being a part of the ARCYC has improved their personal skills and they hope it will become a resource for more Combat Center children.
“The club is fun because it’s just all my friends getting together,” said Alyssa Steiner, 12, ARCYC member. “It’s good being able to meet positive role models and learn about what they do for a living.”
Parents who want to get their children involved can call the American Red Cross office at 760-830-6685. Parents interested in volunteering can visit volunteerconnection.redcross.org.

• Date Taken: 05.12.2016
• Date Posted: 05.12.2016 10:33
• Story ID: 197924
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US