The 2018 Summer Interns at Helmer Scientific chose the Indianapolis Intercollegiate YMCA for their community service event. They worked with the YMCA in the Laurelwood community, a low-income neighborhood in Indianapolis, which provides experiences that enhance student lives in the community, especially focusing on leadership development programs.
The Helmer event focused on transforming the grounds of the YMCA community center. The interns, along with some youth from the center, started the day in the community garden weeding and removing old plants to perpetuate new growth. They also participated in a trash cleanup effort, removing and repairing cement blocks that had been displaced. Maintaining a clean and safe environment for the youth is important in establishing a positive experience.
The Laurelwood Community Program impacts 30-50 children daily. They are provided with food, homework assistance, and fun activities, all in a safe place. The program also connects the children to college students, allowing them to have role models to help shape their future.
Katie McGinnis, Helmer Scientific Marketing Communications Intern stated, “It was a humbling experience to take part in Helmer Scientific’s generosity initiative with other interns and to see our impact in a community that needed our help.”
Katie was recently a guest blogger with Indiana INTERN.net, and shared her experiences during the Intercollegiate YMCA event. Read Katie’s blog post.
Strong Futures: Empowering Kids and Youth is an employee driven service campaign intended to encourage employees and their families to serve together to empower at-risk kids and youth.
