Vote for SOS!

DAYTON – Local youth leaders are asking community members and other supporters to help save the Dayton Summer Youth Program (Summer Rec.). All supporters must do is go online to: https://www.state-assist.com/cause/1502697/sos-save-our-summer.

Those who vote for SOS (Save Our Summer) will help Blue Mountain Counseling and the Coalition for Youth and Families win a $25,000 grant from State Farm Insurance. Projects that receive the most community support (the top 40 projects) through voting will be awarded the funds. Supporters can vote up to 10 times each day for the SOS program; voting closes on June 3.

"Please vote these 10 times every day for three weeks," urged Laura Tolman, prevention coordinator with Blue Mountain Counseling. Voters can select a box on the page to use all 10 votes of the day on the SOS project without having to return 10 separate times. "We are a small community, and it will take a lot more work for us to win this grant over the huge cities with much more resources. Summer Rec makes a huge difference to this community. Help keep it alive. Send this information to friends, relatives, neighbors anyone you can think of."

Out of 4,000 grant applicants across the nation, only 200 were selected to participate in this next phase, according to Tolman. "Peggy [Gutierrez, with the Coalition for Youth and Families] and I teared up when we heard our program made the 200. We are such a small rural community what were the chances, right? Well we made it this far. Now it is up to the community, friends, family and all who care about our kids to get us through this next phase."

If funded, Save Our Summer would operate much like an expanded "summer camp" for children ages 5 - 12 and provide volunteer and employment opportunities for teens, according to the mission of the program published on the voting site. "Fun, engaging, and challenging activities would include: exploring other cultures through creative and interactive experiential programs; examining environmental science through illusions, brain games, and experiments; using Disney characters through hands on approaches to learn basic computer programing; utilizing 'red-yarn-laser mazes' to enhance physical fitness and hand-eye coordination; and crafts, swimming, and interactive play."

SOS would provide nine-and-a-half hours per day, five days per week for six weeks of supervised summer experiential learning and recreational activities for local children. In addition, funds will be used to purchase learning tools, materials, supplies, and snacks.