We had a very busy meeting with much on the agenda. We had 2 new members and 17 members purchased t-shirts for our upcoming volunteer events. Our group decided to help with several organizations in many different ways! I am so proud of this great group of kids and their parents, they are so caring and willing to help better their community in any way possible.

We will be helping out NOAH's House: "A faith based shelter for life's storms", in Archbold. Our group will be partnering with NOAH's House to provide a birthday committee for those children that are less fortunate and would often times go without a birthday party. We will provide gifts and throw a birthday party at the house as the need arises. Our teens are available for babysitting as needed for parents to look for jobs, go to doctor’s appointments or just for various other needs to be met. Our youth are available to mentor or just hang out with and be a friend to these children in a time of loneliness and need. In the spring, summer and fall we will help plant and tend to their large garden. For more information on The NOAH House visit www.archboldnoahhouse.org.

Tiffany Bates Benefit - 14 year old Tiffany Bates from Fayette was badly burned by the family corn burner when it back drafted in her face in Oct. 2009. St. Casper's Church in Wauseon will be holding a benefit for her and her family on Saturday, March 6th at 6pm. Our chapter will be there helping set up, serve food and with clean up. We will also provide a clown, face painting and crafts for the children. We will be donating baked goods for deserts and items for the auction.

We will be helping out Centennial Therapeutic Riding Center, located outside of Wauseon. Centennial Therapeutic Riding Center provides recreational and therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with physical, mental or emotional needs. Our youth will be cleaning stalls, feeding, watering, and raking the arena and assisting with the grooming of the horses.

We will be seeking donations and trying to raise money to "adopt a bedroom" at The Open Door in Delta. Our goal is to furnish one entire bedroom. Items we will be searching for are a new twin bed and mattress, a dresser, bedding, lamps and alarm clocks. The Open Door will be opening their six bedroom temporary housing, homeless facility in the summer of 2010.

We are currently assisting the Fulton County Humane Society by passing out flyers and helping spread their word. Our involvement will continue as they progress. They are currently in search of 6-8 acres in the Wauseon area for the home of the new Fulton Co. Humane Society. They will be holding their first "community" meeting on Wednesday March 10, 2010 at 6pm at Smith's Restaurant (next to the Wauseon turnpike exit 34). There is no charge to attend but space is limited so please RSVP to fultonhumanesociety@gmail.com or call 888-335-3916 no later than March 5, 2010.

Welcome to IYN - Fulton County! Helping others especially teens has always been a passion of mine. It is a very awesome feeling to help people in a desperate time of need! After helping the Cherry Street Mission in Toledo over Christmas, I decided at the beginning of this year (2010) that I was going to help 35 local charities/non-profit organizations in some way or another this year. I started my search online just looking for ideas on where to start. Little did I know that I would soon come across what I feel was the ultimate opportunity!  It would encompass both my passion to help others and my desire to work with youths locally. What I found was a non-profit organization called The Invisible Youth Network. It was founded in March of 2007 by Founder and Chairman Russel Hartsaw in San Diego. His purpose was to provide support and resources to an estimated 1.5 million homeless at risk youth walking our streets and cities. To read more about our parent site or Russell and his endeavors with his San Diego Chapter check out:  www.invisibleyouthnetwork.net. While the San Diego chapter focuses on homeless youth, IYN - Fulton County is committed to bettering Fulton County as a whole. Some areas of local focus may include: Supporting our “homeless” shelters here in Fulton County by helping plant a garden, providing a birthday committee to ensure children are able to have a party, Helping provide items the house(s) need, Supporting our local animal shelter, Food & Clothing drives for those in need in Fulton County, Sending support/encouragement to our soldiers, School supply drive for schools in Fulton County, Adopting local families in need during the holidays and much more

There may be times the group may choose to help outside of Fulton County but it would be in ways other than financial contributions. For example, IYN – Fulton County has collected over 150 used holiday cards to send to St. Jude’s Ranch in Nevada. St. Jude’s Ranch is a home for children rescued from abused, abandoned and neglected homes. They are rescued from the vicious cycle of child abuse and given a healing and nurturing safe home-like environment where these children can learn life skills to start new lives with new chances, new choices and new hope. The cards collected are used for St. Jude’s Recycled Card Program. The children participate in making the new cards by removing the front and attaching a new back. The result is a beautiful new card made by the children and volunteers. The benefits are two-fold: customers receive "green" holiday cards for use and the children receive payment for their work and learn the benefits and importance of "going green".  For more information on this program please check out: www.stjudesranch.org.

To learn more about us or to find out how you can become a member come to our official kick off meeting Feb. 08, 2010 at 5:30 pm!!!! We would love to have your help! Our goal is to reach out and welcome all youth representing every school district in Fulton County.