North State Teens Making a Difference in Their Communities

Studies have shown that teens who volunteer and do community service gain a sense of responsibility, learn empathy for others, and have increased self-esteem. It’s a chance to explore interests and passions outside the classroom and often can be a gateway to a future career.

Mackenzie Harris is a Youth Ambassador for suicide prevention

End the Silence is the Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative, supported by the North Valley Community Foundation (NVCF). NVCF supports dozens of community service projects and organizations throughout Butte, Colusa, Glenn and Tehama Counties and relies on volunteers to help make many services available.

According to Mackenzie, who uses her own experiences to help other stressed teens, “Stress, anxiety, depression, feeling alone, overwhelmed, or hopeless. These are some of the feelings you, or someone you know may be experiencing right now. I remember feeling scared, anxious, like I was trapped in my own body and wanted to get out. I wish I would have sought out help back then because looking back, I was suppressing my emotions because I didn’t want to feel like a burden. I wish I would have reached out for help because it is not embarrassing to ask for help.

“It is always worth taking the time to check in with your friends and letting them know that you are there for them. Once I was able to open up, I knew that it was okay to get help and people did care about me, they really did love me, and they wanted to hear my story. I am super grateful for the experiences I have had because it made me who I am today. My experience reflects one of my favorite quotes: “Everything is going to be okay in the end. If it is not okay, then it is not the end.”

Chloe Alchin jumps right in helping animals

This cat-loving teen began volunteering with the Butte Humane Society after her family adopted two cats from their shelter. “As soon as I learned you could volunteer there, I was begging my mom to sign up as soon as I could,” she says.

Volunteers at Butte Humane have the opportunity to walk the dogs, socialize cats, do office tasks, help with cleaning and organization, and do educational outreach. Chloe mainly works with the cats, which she finds “really calming,” and in the warehouse where laundry and dishes are done. She said that the work is rewarding, and “it really feels like you’re having a direct impact on these cats being able to find their forever home. “

Butte Humane’s Intern & Volunteer Coordinator Kelly Laprezioso says, “Not many volunteers are willing to wash dirty litter boxes and pet laundry, but Chloe jumps right in with no complaint. She is our only Core Junior Volunteer and such an example for teens her age.”

Chlöe Monét Wilder is becoming skilled at organizing

Chlöe Monét Wilder of Shasta County has experience organizing an annual event for Rare Genes Day in February and a mask drive for medical professionals. In early 2020, Chlöe heard about a shortage of masks among medical professionals during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, so she and her friend Hannah Frank set to work making reusable masks from donated materials.

Both the mask drive and the Rare Genes Day events were inspired by her two younger brothers who have a rare genetic condition called Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. “Because of my two brothers with special needs, I wanted to make sure that people can be safe too,” Chlöe says.

With the help of friends and family, she has organized events for Rare Genes Day that have included guest speakers, raffles, educational presentations, and a bike-a-thon. Proceeds from the events have gone to organizations that provide support, education, and resources to those affected by rare genetic conditions.

Chlöe finds joy in helping people in need, and her favorite part of giving back to the community is “being able to help show the next generation that if we all stand up for what we know is right and what God wants us to do, then the world would be a much better place.”