Teens in Action: Service with Heart at the District Conference

During this year’s Rotary District Conference, 26 International Youth Exchange Students rolled up their sleeves at Southeast Steuben County Library and got to work on two meaningful service projects that touched lives both human and furry.

🧸 Comfort for Kids
One project focused on making soft, handmade pads for children who rely on feeding tubes. These pads protect sensitive skin and offer much-needed comfort — especially since they’re often not covered by insurance. The teens’ creations will be donated to pediatric hospital units across the region and directly to families who need them.

🐾 Toys for Shelter Pets
In a second project, the students turned their creativity to animal shelters, crafting colorful tug toys for dogs and playful bundles for cats. These toys offer stimulation and comfort while animals await adoption.

It was a beautiful display of Rotary’s values in action:   service, compassion, and international friendship that's powered by our next generation of leaders. Thank you to Rotarian Pauline Emery and the other organizers -- and the students!!