High school students recruit volunteers with candy

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM) - While many spent Saturday, Oct. 31 enjoying the fun of Halloween, several high school students from across West Michigan took time to recruit volunteers.

WZZM 13 News learned how this group of heroes used candy to get students involved in their community.

"We decided on Halloween Day (to get the word out). We have bags of candy for anyone who pledges to volunteer today," said Kierstdea Furey, a City High School Senior. "So that's the Give time. Get candy (theme)."

Originally these high school students were going to hold an upside down roof sit at the Adobe restaurant off Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, but the problem was that "we couldn't sit on the roof," said Furey. "There's too much liability and we don't want anyone to get hurt."

But that didn't stop them from coming out to deliver their message anyway.

"We're trying to get 500 people to pledge to volunteer this next; during the rest of the school year," said Furey.

The web site the students are using, www.ivolunteergr.org, has a search engine through the local United Way, which has a listing of different non-profit organizations that need volunteers.

"I think it broadens your perspective on what's actually going on in the community," said Furey. "Had I not started volunteering in the community, I probably wouldn't have known as much as what's going on in Grand Rapids as much as I do now."

And grabbing the attention of potential volunteers seemed fairly simple for this group, as many of them held up signs in hopes of attracting other high school students to volunteer in their community.

 "Usually when people think of volunteer work, they think of adults. But kids can volunteer and they can be a part and a big impact on the community," said Khayriyyah Smith, a sophomore at East Kentwood High School in Gaines Township, Mich.

"Kids that want to volunteer and that have a desire to volunteer (are) able to fulfill those needs. And we're just trying to do, again, better facilitate to those desires and provide a medium for them to volunteer at community organizations near them," said Gabe Audu, who is a senior and on the football team at West Catholic High School in Grand Rapids.

Give time. Get candy. A unique way for these high school students to promote the importance of volunteering on Halloween.

The teenagers are members of the Youth Grant Committee through the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. They meet throughout the year to assess youth issues.