craigdailypress.com

Photo by Collin Smith

Residents and members of the Moffat County Youth Leadership Team, an organization made up of local teenagers, listen to Moffat County Sheriff Tim Jantz address the crowd Monday at the kick off to National Runaway Prevention Month.

The combined efforts of local residents, volunteers, organizations and youths beared fruit Monday evening toward a common cause.

A crowd of about 30 gathered in front of the Moffat County Courthouse to celebrate the kick off to National Runaway Youth Prevention Month in Moffat County.

"The future wellbeing of our nation is dependent on the value we place on our young people," Moffat County Sheriff Tim Jantz said, reading from a proclamation passed by the county commissioners last week. "We must provide opportunities for youth to acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to develop into healthy and productive adults."

Organizers plan to put on several events throughout November to raise awareness of homeless and runaway youths in the community.

For the past few weeks, the Moffat County Youth Services Department, Youth Leadership Team and Runaway and Homeless Youth Collaborative have collected applications for a creative art project open to people ages 12 to 24.

Prizes will be awarded at a final judging at 2 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Community Budget Center, 555 Yampa Ave. Awards include $200 in Craig Chamber of Commerce spree bucks and an mp3 player.

Organizers said there would be enough prizes for every entrant to take home something.

The Youth Leadership Team, which is entirely made up of local teens, plans to do a stage show from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 7, 14 and 21 at the Community Budget Center, 555 Yampa Ave.

The play's theme is an extension of the state slogan "A couch is not a home," which Moffat County teenagers and officials created.

Local teenagers and other volunteers also handed out green light bulbs Monday to passing motorists. Officials hope residents will put the lights up at their homes and businesses throughout November to show awareness and solidarity in overcoming youth homelessness.

Kevyn Mack, 29, and J.D. Merriam, 26, volunteered their time as members of the Wolfhounds Motorcycle Club to help control traffic.

Mack said he felt good helping people.

"I've been in the military, and I just got home from Afghanistan," Mack said. "When you see things like that, how people there live and what they face, it's incredible. When you come home, you never stop being a soldier. You want to help anywhere you can."

Officials plan to continue helping the cause past November.

The local Runaway and Homeless Youth Collaborative is one part of a six-county organization directed at corralling homelessness among teenagers and children.

The multi-county effort is funded through a $1 million federal grant, about $167,000 of which will come to Moffat County.

Kelly Patterson, Youth Services Department director, has said previously she plans to use the funds to pay for local youths and families to use services already available, such as counseling, job and life skills classes or to register as host homes for youths who need a place to stay.