Serving the community starts at a young age for the teens on the Augusta Red Cross Youth Board. The Youth Board's purpose is "to encourage and increase meaningful youth involvement in the Red Cross and in the community," says Lynn Reese, the Youth Services director.

The Youth Board helps serve the community by teaching baby-sitting and water-safety programs, assisting with disaster preparedness and relief and helping with all the chapter's special events and fundraisers, in addition to working at the Golden Harvest Food Bank, Doctors Hospital and with local children in foster care. They also hold monthly activities for Gracewood State School.

The Youth Board plans and runs leadership conferences for middle school and elementary school children.

Some might wonder who would want to put in all of the work. The answer would be 185 teens from across the Augusta area: 125 high school and 60 middle school pupils.

These pupils applied to the Youth Board. "We look for people with leadership potential who have a sincere interest in helping others," Ms. Reese said of the selection process:

If you are a middle or high school pupil interested in becoming a member of the Red Cross Youth Board, contact Lynn Reese at LReese@arcaug.org.

Stefan O'Kula is a rising junior at Augusta Preparatory Day School.