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“Successful Local Non-Profit Company NASA Education Project Fresh Start Participants Gives Back To The Community”

Tuesday night’s City of Crystal Lake council meeting was the first of many presentations planned for the participants of Project Fresh Start for 2010. Mr. Blanchard presented Chief Dave Linder with a check in appreciation for the efforts and sacrifices he and his department makes daily to keep our community safe. Accompanying that donation was another monetary donation for the Crystal Lake Fire Department to go towards their EMS division. Realizing that nothing comes for free, in addition to their pay-it-forward initiative, each of the participants volunteer 10 hours a month at local shelters, organizations and other locations out in the private sector. They have come to terms with how they got into the condition they were in and now are thankful for their new found successes, they know first hand there are those individuals that haven’t been given the same opportunities and truly wanted to show their appreciation. A year ago, during their weekly group meetings Mr. Blanchard, along with the participants, discussed what they could do within the community to show their appreciation and willingness to give back; in recognition of NASA Education for its program and beliefs instilled by Mr. Blanchard for offering them a new lease on life and a fresh start. A group decision was made that through their work assignments of yard work, snow shoveling, home maintenance and repair; a portion of the money received for those tasks be saved and donated throughout the community. The unanimous decision started the pay-it-forward initiative. The participants are individuals who only months, weeks or in some cases days ago, didn’t know where to turn to for assistance and truly have so little of their own, still want to do something to show their appreciation and to also give them a purpose and something strive for.

Opportunities given to the participants are positions working either on local, county, state and federal contracts and in local businesses, created by Mr. Blanchard. C’Ville Thrift and Resale is the newest venture. Located in Meadowdale Shopping Center in Carpentersville, IL the store opened its doors in January, 2010. Through generous donations made from the general public and local businesses, we have been able to stock our shelves and offer gently used items at very reasonable prices. So through spring cleaning, yard and rummage sales, NASA Education welcomes donations of gently used items that individual and local businesses no longer need. Items can either be picked up or dropped off at the store. We are very grateful to local service organizations, such as the VFW Post 1307 of Elgin, IL who have made various donations to not only our store, but supplied NASA Ed with enough toiletry items to serve participants for the next 2-3 Stand Downs, which are held in the spring and fall at YMCA Camp Algonquin. Vets Total Car Care, located at 8304 Pingree Rd in Lake in the Hills is another business where our Project Fresh Start participants gain knowledge and experience while servicing automobiles. Vets Total Car Care is a full service automotive and small engine shop that is open to the public, currently Monday through Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm. Walk-ins are welcomed, or you can schedule an appointment by calling 847-458-4664. All net proceeds go directly to the veterans in Project Fresh Start and no salaries come out of either venture, all time by staff is donated to NASA Education Corporation.

Privately funded, NASA Education is a Crystal Lake-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization who’s main program, Project Fresh Start, offers a community and workforce reintegration program that includes free housing, transportation, and training for U.S. veterans who are newly returned, displaced, disabled, homeless or otherwise in transition.

For more information about NASA Education, please contact Amy Johnson at 866-338-4968 (866-EDU-4YOU) or amy_johnson@nasaeducation.org or visit our website at www.nasaed.org.

For more information about NASA Education, contact Amy Johnson, Program Director, at 866-EDU-4YOU (866-338-4968) or send an email to Amy_Johnson@nasaeducation.org