All island youth grades 6-8 are invited to a Natural Helpers Pizza Party, Saturday, June 5 from 4-9 p.m. at the Fireside Room across the parking lot from the Orcas Island Community Church. You can reserve your spot by calling 376-1547 to leave a message with your name and phone number.

This unique “peer helping” program was originally developed by C.H.E.F., the Comprehensive Health Education Foundation, and was recently restarted on Orcas by Orcas Island Prevention Partnership (OIPP) partners ~ the Orcas Family Health Center, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS), the Readiness to Learn (RTL) program and the Fun House. Staff from each organization collaborated to bring the first training to a group of 14 students and 5 adults at Camp Orkila last fall.

This followup meeting is open to all youth, grades 6-8 to help kids learn and brush up on “Helping Skills”, meet new friends from the community and introduce interested youth to what Natural Helpers is all about. Lori Stohlee, an experienced Natural Helpers trainer of 20 years, and the Prevention Center Coordinator from ESD 189 in Anacortes, will be joining us with new activities.

The process teaches and builds “Helping Skills” based on good decision making, taking care of yourself when being a friend and helper to others, expressing care and concern, working as a team, recognizing situations which require adult help and encouraging friends to seek adult help. The program has been proven to help to increase the bonds between students, caring adults and the community.

Anyone interested in attending is asked to please call 376-1547 and leave a message with their name and phone number by Thursday evening, June 3.