If you were to enter HOME a few weeks ago, it is very likely you would have encountered a large group or two of youth gathered together, handcrafting duct tape flower pens. The youth were taught a brief “how to” tutorial at a CREW meeting and then the pen frenzy took off! Youth were on a roll, constructing multiple pens a day, and even teaching their peers how to make them as well! It was quite astonishing to see how quick some youth became at constructing the pens and how much of their daily time they devoted to the routine. Staff at HOME greatly enjoyed handcrafting pens with the youth and being able to witness the their creativity objectively as they each chose different color schemes and designs for the pens. It was extremely refreshing and exciting to see the youth choose to actively engage in this project, rather than other norms such as surfing the internet or playing video games.
What's the source of this craft craze you may ask? Well, the participating youth aspire to partake in a field trip to the Salem State Hospital this Spring! Not only will this be a fun adventure, but an educational experience as well! This project is a valuable demonstration of the relationship between work ethic and reward, as the students participate in fundraisers to earn their attendance to the field trip.
These unique pens are currently being sold at Fresh Start Market and Espresso to raise funds for the filed trip. Fresh Start Market is a new program of the Marion County Juvenile Department that offers employment to youth as well as the opportunity for them to pay back restitution to victims of crime. A majority of the pens have already been purchased, so head on down to 3020 Center St. NE. in Salem and pick up one of these neat pens while they last! Also keep your eye out for handcrafted garden signs for retail at the same location, as this is the youth's next fundraiser. A most sincere thank you to Fresh Start Market for enabling these fundraisers!
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