MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Richland County Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board held its yearly community service project earlier this month.
Board members organized a ‘Teen Buddy for a Night’ program, where children in kindergarten through fifth grade were able to come in for a night of fun. The activities included games, crafts, and more.
Kids who attended went through multiple stations, including a giant four-in-a-row game, bowling, friendship bracelet making and crafting a popsicle stick catapult. The last activity was popular with the older children.
The Teen Advisory Board is a volunteer program composed of teens in Richland County. They advertise and promote the library’s annual Summer Library Program, help plan programs at the library and organize annual service projects.
The program helps teens meet new people and form lifelong friendships based on common interests.
One of the second-year members, Emily Neighbors, said being on the board helped her step out of her comfort zone and become more social while positively impacting her community.
Her favorite part is engaging with other teens who have similar interests and trying new things.
Courtney Hardy, one of the advisors, said her favorite part of advising the Teen Advisory Board is watching the members grow as individuals throughout their time on the board.
Even in her first year of advising, she has seen some of the members come out of their shells and speak up more in the meetings.
“TAB (Teen Advisory Board) has helped me be a better person by giving me the chance to be a role model to a group of teens we see regularly,” Hardy said.
For more information on library events, visit https://www.mrcpl.org/. For more details on the Teen Advisory Board, email chardy@mrcpl.org.