Students With A Purpose

Students With A Purpose was formed in August of 2002. the purpose of the program is to provide preventive, intervention activities and services for youth from many walks of life. Helping youth who are at risk socially, academically and those that are in foster care. The youth look for opportunities to give back to their community through their own service. These students we speak of are all middle and high school aged.

Students With A Purpose volunteered their services to Community Based Care during Make A Difference Day, 2004. It was their task to organize the clothing closet, which provides clothing for foster children in Volusia and Flagler Counties. Many times children come under the care of Community Based Care without any clothes. Students With A Purpose helped make the community Based Care clothing system user friendly. They did a terrific job, and this task incorporated a lot of team work.

Some of the youth involved with Students With A Purpose are part of the foster system and could relate to the experiences and clothing needs of foster children that Community Based Care serves. Because of this connection, Students With A Purpose chose to help Community Based Care and opened their hearts to serve their community by giving back with care for their peers.

When the Students With A Purpose group first saw the facility that they were asked to clean. They were unsure if they could make a difference because working in the storage room appeared to be a very difficult task. In the end they all came together, rolling up their sleeves to get the job done, and had a lot of fun doing it. Ms. La Verne White, their Director, pitched in as well. When this task was completed, one of the youth yelled, "you can finally see the floor!" Truly this was a great accomplishment that will touch hundreds of children served by Community Based Care.

Students With A Purpose has done and continues to provide other volunteer work in the community. They cleaned up the grounds at The George Marks Elementary School, The chapel of Divine Mercy Church, and The Spring Hill Community Center. They also read stories to children in various day care centers and collect food and make baskets for families in the community that are in need. In addition, the group spends quality time with seniors in the community by just visiting as well as cleaning and mowing their yards. Some of the students speak to younger children about the dangers of drugs. They also volunteered their services as youth counselors for DeLand Art Museum during their Art Summer Camp program.

These students attend 5 different schools in Deland, FL and are directed by Ms. LaVerne White. Recently, the School Board of the Volusia County School District recognized Students With A Purpose, and they were chosen as award winners in the Youth Group Category. They also won the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award for Flagler and Volusia County for Youth. The group has also been recognized by the United Way and Bright House and was awarded for their service to the community in 2005.