A 2004-2006 JWCB Public Affairs Project
(Make-a-Difference Day)
Mentoring Incarcerated Girls
JWCB Public Affairs committee members established a mentoring program for 6 girls incarcerated at Sargus Juvenile Center in St. Clairesville, Ohio.
The first step was to purchase inspirational books for young adults, and the clubwomen spent a morning getting acquainted with the girls by exchanging ideas and stories of their lives, and presenting the books.
On another occasion, the clubwomen and the girls visited the Barnesville Manor independent living facility for seniors to perform homemaker services for the elderly and homebound residents. The girls cleaned kitchen capinets, rakes leaves, vacuumed heating vents, washed windows and organized bookshelves. The residents were very pleased for the help with chores they are no longer able to perform.
The clubwomen feel the young girls are not bad kids, just girls that have made bad choices; and that by sharing with them the opportunity to help others, they can demonstrate that the girls can make a difference in their own communities, and feel good about their accomplishments.
