YouthAbility is an outreach program of Jewish Family Services in which young people with disabilities participate in service to their communities.  YouthAbility is an innovative project that helps community service organizations adapt their programs to make them more inclusive and accommodating to individuals with disabilities.

Service participants in YouthAbility service opportunities partner with developmentally-challenged and at-risk youth in a variety of service activities. At this site, JCU service participants and YouthAbility volunteers will join together raking leaves and cleaning flower beds for elderly residents in the South Euclid area. Rakes and gloves will be provided.

IMPORTANT: Please note that this activity involves work outside. Participants should plan to be dressed for the weather! Also, as the group will be traveling from house to house, all participants MUST select and take the transportation provided; you may not drive yourself to this service.

Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH) is a Jesuit Program that partners with families to provide students from challenged backgrounds with a quality education and opportunities that will allow them to reach their full potential. Students live on the campus during the school year, where they are cared for by Resident Counselors who attend to their social and academic needs as well as Americorps members who closely monitor their success in school. Since 1991, every Boys Hope Girls Hope scholar throughout the United States has graduated high school and continued on to some form of higher education.

Service participants in this activity will be matched with middle school and high school students who are in need of tutoring in math, science, and English. Tutors will typically work with only one or two students during the session and will usually focus on one subject area.

NOTE: All participants in this service activity MUST:

1. Have strong English, math, or science skills (high school level) 
2. Complete this application and email it to tpatterson@jcu.edu by 9/14/2009
3. Attend service on the first day, as a mandatory orientation/training session will be held on that day. 

Participants who do not follow through on these requirements will be removed from this service activity. 

An affiliate of Catholic Charities through Catholic Community Connection, Brendan Manor is a non-profit group home that provides housing, recreational and support services, and friendship to up to 16 low-income adults. Residents may be challenged by chronic health issues and/or mental health diagnoses; Brendan Manor serves as a "safe harbor" for those who may never have known a clean, safe or secure living space or a loving and nurturing environment.

Service participants at Brendan Manor interact one-on-one with residents in a variety of recreational activities, depending on the interests of both residents and volunteers. Activities might include gardening, playing games, reading clubs, crocheting, discussion groups, arts and crafts, computer or language lessons, or anything else that would provide support and encouragement to the residents.

NOTE: Service participants in this activity should be comfortable with interacting with and providing encouragement to developmentally challenged adults.

A Cleveland Catholic Charities Program through Catholic Community Connection, Light of Hearts Villa is a senior supportive residential living facility committed to serving seniors with grace and integrity through quality, affordable services. Established by the Vincentian Sisters of Charity in 1989, Light of Hearts strives "to provide an enhanced, enriched and improved quality of life for older adults and their families."

Service participants interact with residents following their noon lunch hour through recreational activities such as bingo and checkers, as well as through "friendly visits" and conversation.

Founded in 1883, in the shadow of a great Cleveland. OH. steel foundry, Our Lady of Lourdes is a proud and beautiful church. Its interior betrays its rich Bohemian heritage and reflects the love and pride of a community of faith. We are a strong and bicultural and bilingual church that serves the needs of a strong community of faith.

Service participants will join parish members in worship at the 12:30 mass, followed by conversation and reading activities in the parish hall.

NOTE: Service Participants who wish to register for this activity should have strong Spanish-speaking skills.