Vol. 11, No. 1• November 2006

SaySo "Cleans Up" for Make a Difference Day

by Melinda Medina

For the past two years, Strong Able Youth Speaking Out (SaySo) has sponsored a Make a Difference Day project called, “Give a Child a Smile” which involved collecting suitcases for foster youths in North Carolina. Foster youth across the state voted this year at the annual SaySo Saturday conference for what they needed. The majority of the youth said hygiene products. So the focus of “Give a Child a Smile” for 2006 will include dispersing hygiene products to youths requesting products for themselves and area youths.

We need to hear from YOU! Contact us if you are a foster youth or know a foster youth who is interested in receiving hygiene products. We will only send products to those youths who contact us. We are also collecting donated hygiene products or money to purchase products. Please send all requests and donations by October 27, 2006 to:

Melinda Medina
SaySo, Inc.
411 Andrews Road, Suite 230
Durham, NC 27705
1-800-820-0001 or [email protected]

This year’s Make a Difference Day is on October 28, 2006. Requests need to include: Name, address (to ship products), city, zip, e-mail or phone number, and preferred hygiene products. Please also indicate how much hygiene product you need to distribute to other foster youths in your area (at LINKS or SaySo meetings).

New SaySo Board Members Add Some Spark!
Nine elected SaySo Youth Board members climbed to new heights in June as they joined current board members on the Sandhills High Adventure Course in Pinehurst. SaySo Orientation is an annual event to help board members learn to work together, recognize strengths, and set goals for the upcoming year. As SaySo expands, the youth board needs leadership and teamwork from all members to come forth and join the ranks. SaySo youths are working to create an organization capable of growth and new ideas. We love new blood!! This year, SaySo Board members have set goals to: (1) expand the funding base of the organization, (2) provide support and connections to local chapters, and (3) enhance accountability of Board members.

Copyright � 2006 Jordan Institute for Families