This article was originally published in the Stillwater Gazette on 12/24/2014. Here is a link to the original article: http://stillwatergazette.com/2014/12/24/rotary-clubs-raise-more-than-18000-for-canvas-healths-homeless-youth-program/

The Woodbury, Stillwater Sunrise and Stillwater Noon Rotary clubs joined efforts to raise funds to assist and serve the needs of Washington County’s homeless youth population. As a result of the clubs’ efforts, Canvas Health’s Homeless Youth Program will receive more than $18,000 of funding to continue its services.

According to Pam Johnson, who oversees Canvas Health’s Homeless Youth Outreach program, the Rotary donation will be life-changing for the program’s local youth ages 16-21 and will be used to connect program participants to resources for food, clothing and shelter, allowing them to stay in school, get a job and ultimately reach independence.

“It’s apparent that the Rotary Club members who have raised funds to make this donation have a deep commitment to our communities, our youth and social change — not just through their sharing of resources, but through a transformative process in helping homeless and at-risk homeless youth find stability and a future,” Johnson said.

Stillwater Sunrise Rotary President Steve Madsen praised Canvas Health’s thoughtful connections of homeless youth to appropriate resources.

“When youth are referred to Canvas Health by community support service staff, teachers or other caring adults, the youth are met with genuine, caring people who help them find solutions to the problems causing their homelessness and also help them find a place to stay,” Madsen said. “The Stillwater Sunrise Rotary is proud to support this kind of practical, essential community service.”

Stillwater Sunrise Rotary has been serving the surrounding community for the past 30 years, and meets at Joseph’s Family Restaurant every Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. The Stillwater Noon Rotary Club was established in 1919, and meets every Thursday 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lowell Inn Banquet Center in downtown Stillwater.