Cincinnati, OH – October 19, 2015 – When Saint Ursula Academy students Erin Smith, of Anderson Township, and Gretchen Shisler, of Landon, heard about the number of homeless youth in the Cincinnati area, they knew they had to take action and bring awareness to this issue. Now, thanks to their partnership with Lighthouse Youth Services, other high school students across the region have a way to get involved.
Gretchen first learned of Lighthouse Youth Services (LYS) while talking to her mother, a social worker, about issues affecting teenagers in the Cincinnati area. Her mother suggested that she learn more about LYS so Gretchen and her friend, Erin, asked Dana Saxton, Volunteer and Community Involvement Manager for LYS, to speak to a class at Saint Ursula Academy. From Ms. Saxton’s talk, students learned that each year, there are approximately 4,200 children and teenagers sleeping on the streets of Hamilton County. From that talk, an idea was born.
Gretchen and Erin decided to host a clothing drive to benefit LYS and the response from Saint Ursula Academy students was tremendous. There was enough interest in the organization that the students proposed the creation of a Student Advisory Council, which would plan additional events in the future to benefit LYS. Students from Walnut Hills High School, Withrow High School, and Purcell Marion are invited to the first meeting later this month to begin planning events throughout the school year. Other schools will be invited to participate once events and dates have been determined. Events may include clothing drives, personal care drives, volunteering at the Lighthouse warehouse, and food drives.
Gretchen is happy that she can be a small part of bringing awareness to a huge problem facing children and teens today. “I wanted to find a meaningful way to volunteer and give back to my community. Lighthouse Youth Services really struck a chord with me because it helps children and teenagers---and I love children!”
At Saint Ursula Academy, students are encouraged to “build a better world.” Students Gretchen Shisler and Erin Smith are living this mission as they strive to bring a greater awareness about teens in the area suffering from homelessness.
St. Ursula Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory, secondary school for young women known for academic excellence and rich tradition. St. Ursula welcomes students from more than 70 grade schools in the Greater Cincinnati area. In 2002 the Academy was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of St. Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910. The Class of 2015 earned college scholarships totaling more than $19-million.
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Photo Caption: Dana Saxton, Volunteer and Community Involvement Manager for Lighthouse Youth Services with Saint Ursula Academy senior Erin Smith of Anderson Township and Saint Ursula Academy junior Gretchen Shisler of Landon. The students collected clothing to benefit Lighthouse Youth Services and have started a Student Advisory Board to increase awareness of childhood and teenage homelessness in Hamilton County.