Students use social media to cultivate interest in United Way

Cooke County United Way Youth Council officers P.J. Lane (left)  and Seth Alley relax  on a bench outside the Gainesville Daily Register. The high school students hope to cultivate interest in the council using social media.

By DELANIA TRIGG, Assistant Editor 
Gainesville Daily Register


Gainesville (TX)  — Members of a local youth council are looking for some dedicated students to help fulfill the United Way’s mission in Cooke County.

Cooke County United Way Youth Council president Seth Alley of Callisburg High School and treasurer P.J. Lane of Gainesville High School are using social media to cultivate interest in the organization.

“Everybody checks Facebook,” Lane said. “We have a group for our high school. Different students and faculty can post sports events and recent fundraisers and stuff like that. I got on Facebook and posted information about the United Way Youth Council and asked if anyone was interested. I’ve gotten pretty good positive feedback on that.”

Alley and Lane are hoping to spread the word about the council’s upcoming Extravaganza set for 6 to 8 p.m., Monday at the First State Bank Conference Center at 837 E. California St. in Gainesville.

Youth council advisor Kelly Fiore-Watson said she’s proud of her council officers and thinks other local teens will respond when the call to action comes from their peers.

“Seth and P.J. telling other kids about us is more impactful than anything we can do as adults,” she said.

Other council leaders are vice-president Danielle Hobbs, secretary Kylie Woodlock and member Madison Reed

Fiore-Watson said the youth council tackles problems that affect younger residents.

“The youth council focuses more on what youth has to deal with on a daily basis,” Fiore-Watson said. “Whether that be tutorials for learning, hunger, literacy programs or substance abuse for their age group. The youth council will work towards building that connection for them.”

Both Alley and Lane said they found out about the youth council through adult United Way supporters.

“I heard about the United Way Youth Council through my school counselor, Glenna Metzler,” Lane said. “I was involved in a lot of community service projects and stuff of that sort and she knew me and a few select other seniors would be interested in being involved with United Way Youth Council. She kind of just gave us more information and told us to come out and see what it was about and join. I was openly enthusiastic on doing more for the community.”

Alley said he’s been a proponent for civic projects for some time.

“I had a website where I featured different community organizations that helped with revitalization efforts in North Texas,” Alley said. “My career coach, Denise Brewer, actually first told me about it and I got really interested in it once I heard more about it. It’s just a continuation of what I was already doing.”

The council welcomes students with varied background and interests, Fiore-Watson said.

“Anybody who wants to can become what we call an associate member of the council,” she said. “All you have to do is meet the criteria which is attend six meetings and do two initiatives.”

Youth Council volunteers are planning to help with Mooving through the Mud with Landon — an event to raise money for hypothalamic hamartomas research.

Students in public and private schools can join the organization as can home schooled students.

“We would like representation from all of them,” Fiore-Watson said. “Regardless of who you are in school. Whether you’re labeled as a jock or whatever, maybe you haven’t found your niche, this could be your thing and you just have to come and try it out.”