Hannah Montgomery, 14, helps Layla True read to Montgomery's dog, Dash. Montgomery has started her own reading program for children, called Dash to Read. She is one of more than 200 teenagers who has volunteered this summer through the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan. (Daily Star photo/AARON MUELLER)

By AARON MUELLER

Niles Daily Star

Just because many teenagers are out of work this summer due to a tough economy, it doesn’t mean they aren’t staying busy.

The number of teens working with the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan has more than doubled this summer.

Youth Volunteer Coordinator Callie Campbell said 207 teenagers were involved in June and July, compared with 85 a year ago.

Campbell isn’t sure exactly the reason for the dramatic increase, but she was happy to see it.

“The reasons vary,” she said. “They are as varied as the young people themselves. Some schools are starting to require it for graduation. Sometimes sports teams do it for team-building. Some do it for hands-on activities for a career pathway.”

No matter the reason why teens decide to get involved, she said the takeaway is always positive.

“You can serve people, learn something and find what you want to do in life,” she said. “And along the way feel good about serving people and build your sense of community and build your people skills.”

One of those teenagers new to volunteering is Ava McKeel, who in July joined the teen board for the Ronald McDonald House Family Room at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

“The teen board meets monthly and plans activities and fundraisers to get the family room known and create awareness for it,” the Niles High School junior said. “It’s about fundraising and letting people know what we’re about.”

McKeel said she enjoys helping out and making the jobs of those at the Ronald McDonald House easier.

But McKeel also believes teen volunteering helps send a more positive message about young people.

“Right now the perspective on teenagers is that they’re all bad,” she said. “We need to get out there and show that we’re capable of doing good just as much as anybody else.”

McKeel got involved in volunteer work when talking to her friend Hannah Montgomery, 14, who has been volunteering since age 6.

Montgomery has seen a lot of her friends catch the volunteering bug.

“Schools are making it a lot easier to get out there and volunteer with National Junior Honors Society, student council and Key Club,” she said.

McKeel said she and her friends are beginning to realize volunteering also helps one stand out on college and job applications.

Montgomery, who has volunteered in many different capacities over the years, recently launched her own reading program for children called Dash to Read. Children can visit Montgomery and her dog Dash at local libraries and practice reading out loud to Dash.

“It helps their social skills, reading skills and their confidence,” she said.

The Dash to Read program, which will be taken to area elementary schools this year, is part of the platform of the Miss Cass/St. Joe County Outstanding Teen.

To get involved in volunteering in the community, contact the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan at 683-5464 (Niles), (269) 983-4441 (St. Joseph) or at www.volunteerswmi.org.