By Sam M. Lucero
Catholic Herald
Selling stocks funds parish youth mission trip
But one local youth minister, who experienced the spiritual rewards of helping others as a youth, was determined not to let fund-raising stand in her way. Last June Cheryl Vos, youth ministry director and coordinator of religious education for grades seven through 12 at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Parish, led 18 youth and four adults on a mission trip to Keystone, W. Va.
The trip was organized by the Minneapolis-based Youth Works, which has mission sites across the country, said Vos. The Woodruff group spent seven days scraping and painting homes, caulking exterior windows and working at a day care for area children.
The entire trip was a success and left the youth with a better understanding of Christian service, said Vos.
The trip was made possible thanks to a unique project -- at least on the diocesan level -- for raising funds: selling stocks.
As an investment opportunity, parishioners and family members were able to buy stocks at $20 per share. The profits received by stock holders were not realized in monetary gains, but in the spiritual rewards garnered by youth through their mission experience.
"We looked at a number of fund-raising things," said Vos, noting that most parents and youth were reluctant to sell candy or other food items to raise money.
Vos said she learned about the stock option from a friend who works as a volunteer coordinator in at area hospital. "Everyone, including the parish community, was receptive" to the project, she said.
To allow the youth to take ownership of the project, they were asked to speak to parishioners at weekend Masses and explain how the stock selling project worked. Following Mass the youth signed people up at a table.
"People saw the students on the altar announcing that and it really made a difference as to the response they got," said Vos.
All those who bought stock were given a computer-generated certificate.
"We kept track of all the names and addresses of people" who donated, said Vos. While in Keystone each youth and adult was given 15 post cards to write to stock holders thanking them for helping the group and describing their experience.
While stocks sold for $20 apiece, many family members and parishioners donated lesser amounts and some even more, added Vos.
According to Vos, the stock fund-raising option paid for nearly the entire cost of the mission trip. "We did one car wash" which raised over $1,000, she added.
As for the trip, it was an eye-opening experience, said Vos. "It's like stepping back in time," she said of the poverty-stricken area located near the Appalachian Mountains. "A lot of what they do is barter (for necessities)," she said. "There are not jobs. A lot of people have nothing."
The Woodruff group divided into smaller groups with youth from other churches. Each group was assigned a work site. While many worked repairing homes, others spent their days at Kids Club, a center for impoverished youth.
"In a week's time they formed really strong bonds with these kids," said Vos. Before leaving the youth group held a picnic and invited children from Kids Club. "When they took the kids back, some of the (Woodruff) kids got real emotional and started crying. I told them what they did was to be Christ's hands and feet. From us they experienced love, and I think that's what our mission was -- to bring Christ's love to these people."
According to Vos, plans are in the works for a mission trip next summer. Selling stocks will again be the youth group's preferred fund-raising method.
Editor's note: To learn more about Youth Works call 612-729-5444 or e-mail at youthworks@aol.com. To learn more about raising funds through the stock option contact Cheryl Vos at 715-358-5419.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2000