Young Adults Helping Out Others: Local Teens Give Back to Community with Yard Work

By Jamie Lasorsa, Reporter

Bridging the generational gap has always been a challenge, but Sterling may have cracked the code in best practices.
Twenty-one years ago, a Sterling couple, Kevin and Lisa Beaupre recognized a need for assistance among the elders in town, along with an abundance of energetic youngsters who could be capable, if they accepted the mission of helping their community.
They gathered up a core group of willing teens and put their vision into action and the Y.A.H.O.O. (Young Adults Helping Out Others) program was born. Running completely on donations, the program has continued to thrive and grow.
The group, sometimes lovingly referred to as the “Orange Angels” is made up of teens in grades 7 – 12. They dedicate five weekends during each of the spring and fall seasons to visit the seniors in town who have requested, through the Senior Center, to have the Y.A.H.O.O. teens do yard clean up. Whether it’s raking leaves, spreading mulch, branch pick-up or other small yard tasks, the teens are ready, willing, and able to lend that helping hand.
The program has continued to grow throughout its 21 years, sometimes having upwards of 100 young adult members on the volunteer roster, not only being from Sterling, but some from surrounding towns as well. Being a completely self-sustaining non-profit, the group relies heavily on donations to handle upkeep of the equipment (rakes, wheelbarrows, tarps and more), t-shirts for the members and financing for small incentives for the youth and tokens of gratitude for the seniors.
The program has a Youth Board which serves as the program’s leadership council, and is made up of 12 members. Members go through an application process to be part of the board, in which they convey their ambition to be a part of the program’s leadership, their desire for community involvement, and their work ethic. Those who serve on the board take on extra leadership tasks before, during, and after the season’s five-week work session to make sure the program continues to run smoothly. Being the point-of-contact for homeowners, spreading the benefits of serving with Y.A.H.O.O. and sharing the volunteer opportunity with other teens are all ways the Board members set themselves apart.
Meetings are held before, during, and after each season to evaluate program needs. Before, to get prepared and plan for the upcoming work season; during, to touch base on progress and how things are going; and after, to take time to reflect on what went well, what may need improvement and how to move forward.
Each weekend, groups of 10 to 15 members, two of which are board members, visit five or six homes for a two-hour clean-up time. A total of 25-30 Sterling seniors’ yards receive yard clean-up assistance each season. However, it’s not just yard-cleanup that is taking place during this time.
A special bond is being formed between the teens within the program and the senior community members whom they are helping. The seniors look forward to having the youthful energy around, visitors and new faces to chat with. The Y.A.H.O.O. members feel a sense of pride and community helping their fellow neighbors. During the height of the pandemic, although some minor adjustments needed to be made, like holding conversations through doors and windows, residents young and old were still able to connect. One resident even communicated out her second-story window with the group while they were there.
The group’s motto, “Be Safe, Work Together, Have Fun” is always held front and center. Each week a theme is chosen such as Crazy Sock Day, New England Sports Day or even Pajama Day. However, you can always spot the group members by their bright orange shirts, which are always worn whatever the theme.
Youth Board members Kyla Ormsbee and Samuel Lanciani shared some of the highlights of their time serving with the program and becoming board members.
With a slight nudge from her parents, Stuart and Karen Ormsbee, who are currently the two Adult Supervisors of the program, Kyla found herself following in her older sisters’ footsteps when she joined Y.A.H.O.O. Now in her sixth year with the program, fifth year being a board member, Kyla is very glad she joined. She has learned lots of leadership skills, including public speaking and organizing groups, and enjoys helping her community.
Samuel, currently in his fifth year with the program and his fourth year on the board, found benefits in being able to socialize with other youth, either spending extra time with friends or getting to reconnect with other students who may have moved on to a different school. Helping Y.A.H.O.O. grow its next generation is one of his goals, and he enjoys keeping Sterling looking nice.
Regardless of what got them there, the young adults that make up the program are all there for a common goal, to have fun and help others. Y.A.H.O.O has not only offered their services to the seniors and other families in town, but have also helped the library with craft fair set up and participated in the town-wide cleanup. Even a neighboring town has reached out for guidance on starting their own Y.A.H.O.O. program. The Sterling Y.A.H.O.O. season will begin soon with fall clean-up dates fast approaching. If you see a group of Orange Angels working hard, be sure to give them a beep and a wave of support!