Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Special to the LVN Fernley Intermediate School eighth grader and organizer of Teens 4 Troops, Ashley Crook, shows her patriotism as she and other area teens support military families while their loved ones are away on duty.

By MARY JEAN KELSO

LVN Correspondent

Sometimes it takes a teen to do a big job. Fernley Intermediate School eighth grader, Ashley Crook, is just the type of teen to see a need in the community and start a new organization.

That’s how Teens 4 Troops was born. “My mom (Susan Crook) wanted me to do some sort of community service,” Crook said.

After kicking around ideas about volunteering, Crook came up with a unique plan. She, and many of her friends, had friends and family in the military.

“We have lots of relatives in a lot of different branches (of the military),” Crook said.

Her mom and she saw a need for supporting military families with incidentals required for everyday life at home while their loved ones were away fighting for the freedom of others.

“I got the idea to get other teens into it,” Crook said.

She started simply by talking to her friends that had people in the military. “They were happy to get involved.”

Teens 4 Troops entered a float in the Fernley Christmas Parade last December, and the group was off and running.

Now, Teens 4 Troops has nine Fernley Intermediate School and Fernley High School members.

Sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Cemetery Support Group of Northern Nevada and the Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery Coalition under the supervision of Brett Palmer and Sharon Serenko, the group meets every three weeks at the Pizza Factory in Scolari’s Shopping Center.

Their next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, at 1:30 p.m.

Each teen has a specific job assignment as he or she works to assist the families and do fund raising to supply special needs to military families in Fernley.

Crook is the president and events coordinator of the group; Melanie Berumen is vice president and purchasing; Daniel Sedillo is secretary; Robert Conger, marketing director; Gilliam McCoy, event merchandising; Melissa Thompson and Stephanie Bauters, concessions and project planning; Shanna Capps, activities director; and Sharlene Hazen, advertising.

“We will be doing ongoing fund raising,” Crook said. “We go to Fernley/Reno Raceway every two weeks when there’s a race and sell light sticks,” she said. Another event the group has planned is a Sock Hop with music by Route 66 in the Out of Town Park July 25. There will be games and entertainment for the entire family. Cost will be $15 per person or $25 for two. Advance tickets will be discounted. All proceeds go to local military families.

While the group will be providing other functions, they will also be volunteering at local military events such as the Memorial Day (May 25) ceremonies at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery where they will be handing out coffee and donuts.

They are volunteering to cook hamburgers and hotdogs all day at the Veterans Motorcycle Run on June 13. Money from that event goes to the Veterans Guest House in Reno.

For more information about the group go to http://www.teens4troops.com/, call Susan or Ashley Crook at 575-4742 or email support@teens4troops.com.