Where there is a troubled young person searching for help in Missouri, there is Youth In Need.
The nonprofit started by sheltering homeless and runaway youth and reuniting them with their families in 1974. But in the almost 50 years since then, Youth In Need has grown exponentially. It now serves more than 12,000 children, teenagers and their family members every year at nearly 100 places across St. Louis and eastern Missouri. That enormous impact is why it’s been one of many nonprofits that our parent company, JM Family, has supported for more than 20 years now.
Since 2000, associates in our company’s St. Louis office have supported Youth In Need through nearly $275,000 in donations and more than 760 volunteer hours. Rod Arends, Vice President of Southeast Toyota Finance Service Center Operations, even sits on Youth In Need’s Board of Directors.
Youth In Need operates a 12-bed emergency shelter for young people aged 10 to 19 who are in crisis and need a place to stay. The organization also has a 10-bed transitional living program for 16- to 21-year-olds to provide food and housing. With these needs met, they can then learn the life and workforce skills needed to be fully independent.
A JM Family associate and her child sew masks for Youth In Need’s staff and clients.
But stay-in programs aren’t the only thing Youth In Need has to offer. Teen parents can find help in a program that provides counseling, case management and education. Young children aged 3 to 5 can participate in the organization’s Early Head Start or Head Start program, where Youth In Need staff teach, feed and look after them. This care allows the parents to work, stabilizing the family. Counseling is even available for youth under 19 – and all these services and more come at no cost.
But to be free for participants, Youth In Need runs off community support – the kind that JM Family has provided for 21 years. We started by giving $1,000 at a time and participating in Golfing for Youth, where associates golfed to raise money for the organization. Then we pitched in almost yearly through Dollars for Doers, an annual event where associates who volunteered can choose where JM Family donates. The amount given is based on the number of hours the associate volunteered.
The nonprofit started by sheltering homeless and runaway youth and reuniting them with their families in 1974. But in the almost 50 years since then, Youth In Need has grown exponentially. It now serves more than 12,000 children, teenagers and their family members every year at nearly 100 places across St. Louis and eastern Missouri. That enormous impact is why it’s been one of many nonprofits that our parent company, JM Family, has supported for more than 20 years now.
Since 2000, associates in our company’s St. Louis office have supported Youth In Need through nearly $275,000 in donations and more than 760 volunteer hours. Rod Arends, Vice President of Southeast Toyota Finance Service Center Operations, even sits on Youth In Need’s Board of Directors.
Youth In Need operates a 12-bed emergency shelter for young people aged 10 to 19 who are in crisis and need a place to stay. The organization also has a 10-bed transitional living program for 16- to 21-year-olds to provide food and housing. With these needs met, they can then learn the life and workforce skills needed to be fully independent.
A JM Family associate and her child sew masks for Youth In Need’s staff and clients.But stay-in programs aren’t the only thing Youth In Need has to offer. Teen parents can find help in a program that provides counseling, case management and education. Young children aged 3 to 5 can participate in the organization’s Early Head Start or Head Start program, where Youth In Need staff teach, feed and look after them. This care allows the parents to work, stabilizing the family. Counseling is even available for youth under 19 – and all these services and more come at no cost.
But to be free for participants, Youth In Need runs off community support – the kind that JM Family has provided for 21 years. We started by giving $1,000 at a time and participating in Golfing for Youth, where associates golfed to raise money for the organization. Then we pitched in almost yearly through Dollars for Doers, an annual event where associates who volunteered can choose where JM Family donates. The amount given is based on the number of hours the associate volunteered.
“Where there is a troubled young person searching for help in Missouri, there is Youth In Need. ”
Our largest contribution was in 2018, when Youth In Need was one of six participants that received a $50,000 donation in honor of our company’s 50th anniversary. And in between, we’ve given for other causes like supporting the shelters and being a part of the Children’s Partner Program.
Most recently, JM Family was honored as the Principal Children’s Partner at the organization’s Celebration of Youth Gala in 2020. In that same year, associates sewed masks for Youth In Need’s staff and clients.
JM Family will continue to serve Youth In Need as part of our mission to support the communities where we live and work – but anyone in the local St. Louis and Missouri community can help. You can volunteer in many ways, such as working in the kitchen, taking care of the children’s hands-on science learning garden, holding a donation drive, and more. You can also donate to help support the organization’s many programs. For more details, visit Youth In Need’s website or follow them on Facebook.
Most recently, JM Family was honored as the Principal Children’s Partner at the organization’s Celebration of Youth Gala in 2020. In that same year, associates sewed masks for Youth In Need’s staff and clients.
JM Family will continue to serve Youth In Need as part of our mission to support the communities where we live and work – but anyone in the local St. Louis and Missouri community can help. You can volunteer in many ways, such as working in the kitchen, taking care of the children’s hands-on science learning garden, holding a donation drive, and more. You can also donate to help support the organization’s many programs. For more details, visit Youth In Need’s website or follow them on Facebook.