York Town News
York radKIDS seeking a few good volunteers
By Jennifer L. Saunders
York radKIDS is scheduled to offer its next course in October, this time for children between the ages of 5 and 7, but volunteers are needed to keep this free program available to those who want to take part in it. Pictured here are past participants in York radKIDS.
Photo courtesy of Heather Henriksen
YORK - It started with a dream shared by two local residents.
Back in early 2003, Suzanne Heyland Cyr and Debbie Zerbinopoulos - prompted by events in their own lives and tragedies witnessed time and again in the local, state, national and international news - worked together to form Compassion 4 Children, a York-based advocacy group committed to safety for all children.
The group has grown, and has become the primary sponsor of York's own chapter of the nationally-acclaimed radKIDS program, teaching personal body safety and anti-bullying techniques to scores of children.
In recent weeks, York radKIDS graduated its 10th class, meaning that, in total, the program has served more than 100 children since its courses began back in April of 2005.
But, even in the midst of that accomplishment, Cyr and Zerbinopoulos are hoping to improve the opportunities provided by Compassion 4 Children and York radKIDS in the only way they know how: by involving more local volunteers who are willing to become trained as certified radKIDS instructors or to serve on the Compassion 4 Children board.
"Our board needs to be larger," Cyr explained, adding, "We also need more certified instructors in order to have the capability to teach the radKIDS courses more often."
Time and again, those courses are filled and have waiting lists almost as soon as they are announced. But, funding constraints have limited the number of instructors.
"We have community members and preschool directors interested in becoming certified instructors but I believe that they were waiting for us to offer a community package training that would allow for them to attend a training program within their own community," Cyr explained. "But, we have not been able to raise the $10,000 needed for that. We have raised some funds, but have also used some of those funds to train instructors and to operate the York radKIDS program."
Compassion 4 Children is a non-profit organization, and board members would be asked to serve one year at a time, Cyr explained.
"We also seek motivated and highly energetic citizens who may be interested in either grant writing, fundraising or becoming our fundraiser chairperson," Cyr said. "… And, of course, we are always in need of community volunteers who would be willing to become certified as radKIDS instructors."
While Compassion 4 Children does not have the funds to pay for lodging or travel expenses, Cyr noted the organization is willing to pay the $425 tuition charge for registration and for the radKIDS instructor training itself.
"It's a big commitment, we know," Cyr said, "but we feel our children's safety and wellbeing are worth the effort and expense."
According to the national radKIDS website, www.radkids.org, upcoming New England radKIDS trainings will be offered in Pawtucket, R.I., Sept. 13 through 15, by the Pawtucket Police Department; in South Dennis, Mass., Sept. 20 through 22, at radKIDS Headquarters, and in Chelmsford, Mass., Dec. 4 through 6, by Chelmsford Police & Community Voices.
To date, all York radKIDS classes have been offered to local children free of charge.
"Our York radKIDS program is at a crossroads," Cyr said. "Volunteer hours and fundraising assistance will determine the fate of the York radKIDS community program."
Cyr said without the commitment of its volunteers, York radKIDS could not have accomplished what it has to date.
Ironically, Cyr said, "We are not successfully getting ahead financially, but we have succeeded in teaching a lot of children. The parents so far have been very appreciative of our work and all have provided us with positive feedback about the program."
For more on ways to help, visit www.compassion4children.org.
