Since 1946, the Kansas Association for Youth (KAY) has sought to empower Kansas students with lifetime leadership skills and a service attitude toward others. All students grades 6-12 can join the KAY club through their school to build the skills necessary to become community leaders.
Currently, the Otis-Bison High School-Middle School KAY club has forty-five participants. When asked why he joined KAY, Otis-Bison Junior, Peyton Butler said, “I like doing things for the community, helping people, and having fun doing it.”
Over the past school year, students have been raising money through their Youth Cares for Our Community Fundraising Project. To help community members who have faced recent hardships, students sold trash bags, dip mixes, dry rubs, and pasta salad mixes. Their efforts raised $2000 to support community members and organizations.
Club sponsor Annalee Croting, “KAY club is a somewhere everyone can belong. We have a diverse group of students who participate with many different backgrounds. What these students all have in common is a desire to make a difference in our communities.”
The KAY club students were responsible for generating ideas for where to direct funds. Sixth-grader Travis Ross nominated the Western Cares Program. After club approval, Western Cares received a $400 donation on behalf of the Otis-Bison KAY club.
“The Western Cares program was established as a way for our members to help others who may be struggling to pay their electric bills,” said Member Services Manager Nolan Numrich. “With all of the hardships of the past year, we have seen an increase in Wester Cares request, so I was thrilled to hear the students had selected Western Cares as a recipient.”
One-hundred percent of donations to Western Cares and funds collected through ‘Operation Round-up’ are used to assist members in paying their electric bills.
Croting added, “KAY club is a tradition at Otis-Bison. Siblings, parents, families, generationally continue to find ways to make positive changes in their communities and to become leaders in the process.”
To apply for Western Cares assistance. Visit www.westerncoop.com/western-cares and fill out the web form, or call the office at 1-800-456-6720.