The 23rd annual New Directions Telethon nearly met its goal on Thursday night with pledges and donations totaling just over $16,000.
Director Mike Anderson said it is typical for donations to continue to come in for days, even weeks, after the broadcast, so the youth ministry meeting its $20,000 goal for this year’s telethon could very well happen.
The annual fundraiser, the largest for New Directions, “has always been successful,” Anderson said, and the support from the community has grown, too.
During the telethon, viewers heard from students involved in New Directions, volunteers, and board members. Anderson said the New Directions team sees the telethon as not only “a great fundraising opportunity, but also an opportunity to give a report to the community about what has been going on the past year.”
Proceeds from the telethon are used for general operations of New Directions, Anderson said, things like staff salaries, utilities, and program and curriculum materials.
The programs at New Directions include Kid Connection for grades 3-5 held each Thursday from 6-8 p.m. The middle school program, Wildside, meets each Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. For high schoolers, the youth ministry offers SALT (Student Action Leadership Team), which meets each Monday at McClain High School during lunch. The high schoolers also take part in a monthly activity.
New Directions has a couple things coming up in the spring, Anderson said.
On April 9 and 10 is the “Dead Serious…About Life” drama at the McClain High School Auditorium. Anderson said it is performed by high school students from the tristate area and it “covers a lot of issues that teenagers face. It’s a really well done and challenging program that sparks some good conversations.” Later in April there will be a silent auction fundraiser for New Directions.
Anyone wanting to make a donation can mail it to New Directions, P.O. Box 26, Greenfield, Ohio 45123. All donations are tax deductible, Anderson said, and donors will receive a year-end statement for tax purposes.
For more information about New Directions and the youth ministry programs, go to the ministry’s Facebook page or contact Anderson at 937-876-9868.
“We just want to thank the community for its continued support,” Anderson said.
Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.
