Youth Crew is a youth-led group that gives members a voice in creating change and influencing local and state government decisions. Under the Juvenile Services umbrella, the group focuses on prevention of substance use and community service, with volunteer efforts supported by local organizers.
Among the activities and agencies that have benefited from Youth Crew volunteer support are highway-trash pickup and other clean-up jobs; a Wolf Hotel gathering; Trail of Lights; filling Easter eggs for Great Bend Rec; United Way’s Stuff the Bus; gardening with Communities Organizing to Promote Equity; clearing a storage area at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce; the Ellinwood After Harvest Festival; and the Ellinwood Elementary End-of-Year Carnival.
Any civic group, church, nonprofit, business, or school that could use volunteers is encouraged to contact Youth Crew organizer Tyler Morton at 620-793-1930 or tmorton@bartoncounty.org. The program also operates as part of 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services programming that serves multiple Kansas counties.