Summer is great for whiling away the hours, but itís even better when you can do something helpful.

At least, thatís the philosophy of the dozens of youth involved in Summer Stretch, a service program of Trinity Lutheran Church, North Branch United Methodist and St. Gregoryís Catholic Church that placed young people in local agencies and organizations. St. Gregoryís was the host church.

Participants volunteered at Family Pathways in Rush City and Wyoming; Parmly Senior Housing; Linneaís House in Taylors Falls and Chisago City; and Chisago Lakes Achievement Center; North Branch Food Shelf; Interstate State Park; Chisago County Historical Society; and Trinity Lutheran Church.

Last Wednesday was the final work day of the 6-week long program, and participants capped off their summer of service with a picnic in Chisago City. But first they spent the morning doing the same thing theyíve been doing every Wednesday morning this summer: volunteering.

This is the third summer of the program for Ryan Schwab, 14. On this day he was sorting shelves at the thrift store. Other services he has performed include visiting with elderly people and playing Bingo with mentally handicapped people.

ìItís fun and you still help people. You help improve places like this, putting smiles on other peopleís faces,î Ryan said.

ìThey work hard and theyíre good kids,î said Family Pathways staff member Denise Laursen. ìWe tell them what to do and they do it. Theyíre fun to be around, too.î

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