ROTARIANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH-ECHO LAKE FARMS
Peyton Beattie hosted board members of Rotarians for the Development of Youth who's newest project is Echo Lake Farms (ELF). ELF is a 200-acre parcel nestled on the edge of the Clay and Putnam county-line boundary. It's owners, long-time Rotarian Milton Starnes and his wife Judy Starnes, decided they wanted to leave a legacy in their community.
The experiences Milton witnessed as a Guardian-ad-Litem, guided the direction of the project. He's seen all of the things involved in caring for children through the court system. Too, he knows how much character building is developed when young children and teens are tasked with caring for farm animals in an agricultural setting. His family raised chickens. Thousands of them. He said he always took his shoes off before going into the house. :-)
Judy and Milton's dream is dedicating these 200 acres to give foster children - and their foster parents - mini farms with the means of establishing whatever that family wants to do. The foster parents (or foster families) will be pre-approved and trained by a foster agency for the exceptional challenges of living and loving children who have been abused, neglected and abandoned by their biological parents.
The homes on the mini farms have been architecturally designed. The homes are 2,500 square feet. The goal is to build 40 homes. Presently, there are five homesites cleared and waiting construction. Foster parents will be required to sign a two-year lease on the home well below market value. Estimate to construct each home is $500,000.
Rotarians for the Development of Youth are reaching out to all civic organizations to join with them in building their dream. The website is EchoLakeFarms.com. Visit and donate.
SURVEY RESULTS
Day: Thursday
Time: AM
Weekly: 6
Bi-Weekly: 5
Dues: No problem with amount of dues
BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT
There are more than 200 students signed up for the event. It will be open to families July 7, 2022 from 5-8 PM and Friday, July 8, 2022, from 9 AM-Noon for exchanges.
CCSO AT-RISK CAMP
The Clay County Sheriff's Office wants to host a camp for at-risk youth at KHES from July 18-22nd. They are looking for donations and Todd says he has more information at his office.
SQUARE DANCING
Patricia, Tina and Chrissy say they got this. OK.
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