November 2010

The check presentation to the staff of the HYRC L to R Cat Ryono, Jeff Combe, Michele Templin, Dave Mash AGC V.P., Andrew Johnston Mandi Keller, Lorrin Gehring, Ryan Hall

The Alternative Garden Club is proud to announce that this year their annual holiday charity drive was for the benefit of the Homeless Youth Resource Center (HYRC) located at 655 South State.  Through the efforts of its Members, the Club was able to donate over a thousand items  including clothing, shoes, coats, backpacks, camping gear, water bottles, Etc. to the HYRC.  In addition to the above donated items, the AGC raised over $600 which was presented to Michele Templin-Polasek, Director of Community Engagement, Volunteers of America, Utah, to be used specifically for the agency’s homeless youth program.  Those leading the AGC fundraising efforts for the Center were Shane Breeze and Chet Ricketts, Dave Jolley, Kevin Alvey and Peter Vershoor, and Dave Mash.    The Homeless Youth Resource Center is the primary facility addressing the critical needs of street youth ages 15-22.  Its purpose is to improve the quality of life for homeless youth by meeting their basic needs, providing meals, showers and laundry facilities.  They also assist them in obtaining employment, shelter/housing, and providing referrals for medical, mental health, and substance abuse issues.  In the past year, the HYRC has served over 835 homeless clients and it is estimated that 41% of that number are Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, or Transgendered.