[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 47 (Monday, April 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E626-E627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 2010-2011 CONGRESSIONAL YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR 500 
    HOURS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY--GARRETT HERINGTON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 4, 2011

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and 
privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of 
Representatives that the students of the 2010--2011 Congressional Youth 
Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed 
a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing 
the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service 
project.
  This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in 
grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the 
Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high 
school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current 
events and public policy. These impressive young people, recognize an 
important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back 
to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with 
over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, 
Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student 
shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to 
serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC 
has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their 
dreams.
  President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who 
can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. 
Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, 
but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in 
civilization.''
  With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the 
members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for 
showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It 
is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional 
Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young 
public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you!
  A copy of each submitted student summary follows:

I had the opportunity to help out a charitable organization called 
V.O.L.T, which stands for Vision of Light Team. The `Vision of Light 
Team' is an eyeglass mission. They have been to Cameroon twice and 
recently to Guatemala. They hold vision clinics and distribute used 
eyeglasses to those in need. They have also trained a team in Cameroon 
to do vision clinics. V.O.L.T. regularly sends both eyeglasses and 
money to support this ongoing mission. I worked directly with the head 
of the charity to clean, organize and label the operational items so 
the charity is ready for future missions. The project was done over the 
course of 4 weeks and the main project was preparing, cleaning and 
labeling eyeglass donations for a future trip to Cameroon, Africa.

[[Page E627]]

The charity receives eyeglass donations from across the country. Once 
received, these glasses have to be sorted, evaluated, cleaned, tagged, 
and then sorted and re-packaged so they can be tested by an 
ophthalmologist for prescription strength After this process, they are 
then shipped or accompanied by missionaries to Africa for free 
distribution through the United Methodist Church to those in need.
     --Garrett Herington

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