Volunteers brighten up hydrants

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When Rolling Meadows residents returned home from work last Tuesday evening, they were welcomed by bright red, freshly painted fire hydrants.

Six area youth volunteered their time to apply a coat of red to the hydrants in the Roberts housing development.

The volunteers, ranging in age from 14-24, are part of the Workforce Resource Center’s Career Academy. Throughout the summer, they’ve spent time learning how to be good employees.

Some lessons, like resumés, interview skills and career paths, came through classroom instruction. Other lessons came through community service. So far the group has helped with a Big Brothers Big Sisters landscaping project in New Richmond and painted hydrants in Roberts. Next on the schedule is another Big Brothers Big Sisters project and a Humane Society project.

The Career Academy was held 16 hours a week for eight weeks this summer.

“We teach them how to get a job, keep a job and what work feels like,” summarized Sara Benedict, Workforce Resource coordinator.

Workforce Resource also helped place students in summer work experience positions. There are 25 youths, ages 14-24, working in St. Croix County through the work experiences program, Benedict said.

That’s up from previous years, thanks to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, she said.

The Workforce Resource Center is located at 625 Whitetail Blvd. in River Falls, and serves St. Croix County. For more information about services and job searches, call 715-426-0388.

Tags: fire hydrants, communities, roberts