The American Red Cross of Hancock and Wyandot counties will hold a private party at Coffee Amici in downtown Findlay for teens interested in joining the new Red Cross Youth Council.

The recruitment party will be on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 6-7:30pm. Students will receive a free beverage and be treated to a performance by Chimera, a local rock band comprised of Findlay High School students.

"We wanted to do something more than just hold a meeting at our office" says Executive Director Todd James. "The Youth Council will be a fun, active group and we thought this would be a nice way to introduce it to students who are interested."

Members of the Youth Council will be discussing the mission of the group and some of the activities that are planned for 2012.

James says the Red Cross Youth Council is a youth service group that helps the Red Cross fulfill its humanitarian mission of preventing, preparing for and responding to emergencies. Working closely with the American Red Cross of Hancock and Wyandot counties, youth council members participate in Red Cross service projects that impact their community and the world.

Student members will discover many new opportunities for self-awareness and develop leadership and organizational skills while meeting new people and having fun. The Red Cross Youth Council is a team effort, where Red Cross volunteers and staff and Youth Council students all work together to make their communities safer, healthier, and prepared.
Youth Council members:
o Learn lifesaving skills
o Get trained in disaster response
o Educate their classmates about disaster planning
o Participate in fun activities, such as collecting supplies for overseas military, helping at blood drives and more

The Youth Council is open to high school students in Hancock and Wyandot counties. Anyone interested in attending the recruitment party should RSVP to Youth Council president Paige Lazar by e-mail at [email protected] on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HancockCountyRedCrossYouthCouncil or call the Red Cross at 419-422-9322.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.

The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.

For more information, please visit www.hancockredcross.org, join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hancockcountyredcross and follow us on Twitter @HancockRedCross. The American Red Cross Hancock County Chapter is a United Way agency.