Topeka Habitat receives a Youth in Action grant from State Farm to engage young leaders and encourage community volunteerism.

Topeka Habitat for Humanity received a $5000 Youth Action grant from State Farm to cultivate young leaders and encourage involvement in neighborhood projects.  This grant project will focus on engaging young leaders in expanding and maintaining the Topeka Habitat Community Orchard at 26th & Buchanan.

State Farm’s Youth Action grant supports local Habitat for Humanity affiliates in developing innovative strategies to engage youth outside of the traditional home build volunteering experience. A day of volunteerism, community building and learning will take place on Saturday, October 18th from 10am-2pm at 2600 SW Buchanan. Volunteers ages 15-21, will spend the day working at the Topeka Habitat Community Orchard. Volunteers will be building raised gardens, pruning and preparing the orchard trees for winter, painting signs, and cleaning-up the area. They will also have opportunities to learn about food access, gardening, neighborhood revitalization and volunteerism.

“We are excited that so many young people want to volunteer. Our hope is that programs like this will not only serve our neighbors, but also cultivate creative ideas to continue building community.” said Nikki MacMillan, Chief Operating Officer at Topeka Habitat for Humanity

“State Farm is proud to support Topeka Habitat for Humanity with a Youth Action grant,” said Rasheed Merritt, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at State Farm. “We are a company of good neighbors and are thrilled to support other good neighbors through Habitat for Humanity’s youth programs that engage and inspire our youth to advocate for, support, build and repair more resilient, affordable housing in their local communities.”

This funding is part of a $2.6 million donation to Habitat for Humanity International from State Farm to support the organization’s youth initiatives as well as creating resilient-focused housing solutions in communities across the U.S. Since the partnership began in 1994, State Farm has contributed more than $19 million to support Habitat programs. The company has also provided $12 million to more than 450 local Habitat affiliates to further Habitat’s mission of building homes, communities, and hope.