[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 61 (Monday, May 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN RECOGNITION OF HELP TO OTHERS, LAKEWOOD, OH

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                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 12, 1997

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the 
accomplishments of an innovative youth program in Lakewood, OH, known 
as Help To Others [H2O].
  Help To Others is a youth volunteer program sponsored jointly by the 
city of Lakewood/Division of Youth Services and Lakewood city schools. 
It was started in early 1993 to enable young people to identify 
community needs and develop solutions to those needs. The young 
participants engage in problem solving with adults and institutions. 
They prove that with an organizational backing, young people can and 
will choose to get involved in their community.
  Help To Others has involved over 350 students from Lakewood High 
School in over 230 service projects. Those students have donated over 
12,000 hours of service.
  One of Help To Others' most recognized projects is ``Home Alone,'' a 
workshop for students in grades 3-5 to help them feel safer and cope 
better when they are home alone. The young students learn first aid, 
phone/door greetings, and fire safety. They learn how to deal with 
general house concerns such as power failure and an overflowing toilet, 
and they learn coping skills that help them resolve conflicts with 
siblings and friends.
  Home Alone prepares youngsters for the times when they must be 
responsible for themselves or other children when there are no adults 
to help. While Home Alone was designed to assist families with latchkey 
concerns, parents of all children have recognized the value of the 
information on safety.
  Home Alone was created and is staffed by Lakewood High School 
students. It draws on the knowledge and talents of experts from the 
Lakewood Division of Youth, Lakewood Hospital, Lakewood Police 
Department, Lakewood Fire Department, and Cleveland Electric 
Illuminating Company.
  Home Alone was recently recognized by the Points of Light Foundation 
and was a winner of the BEST Practices Award, which is sponsored by the 
Ohio Department of Education.

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