The YSB works with young people every day. I hoped she might have some insight. I wanted to know what parents and the community can do to make a difference. How can we protect our children and grandchildren?

Just as I was about to ask, she volunteered another troubling fact. “Did you know that the northshore has the highest rate of teen suicide in the state?” She went on to detail the suicide awareness program, Teen Life Counts, that the YSB is trying to bring to the young people of our area. The program teaches high school sophomores to watch for danger signs in their peers and gives them resources to call upon for those in need.

The Youth Service Bureau and Inside Northside are working to raise the $60,000 needed to train volunteers and implement the Teen Life Counts program. We hope you will consider giving a donation as a gift to our community this holiday season. If you’d like more information on the program, call the Youth Service Bureau at 893-2570.

As we celebrate the holidays and the passing of another great year, I hope your elves are generous and the mistletoe is over your head! Don’t miss the magic of the season!

Copyright 2004, M&L Publishing, all rights reserved.