A new fund raiser, Springfield Soup and Serve, sponsored by Dr. Kathy McKee and held at Wittenberg University Wednesday night turned out to be a definite win - win event for all five organizations :  Tecumseh Council Boy Scouts, Students at the Career Technology Center, On The Rise, Christ Episcopal Church, and SHAWC, a youth group from New Carlisle who is part of Cole’s Warriors, a division of Family and Youth Initiatives. 
After a very yummy dinner, each group had the opportunity to get up and give a five minute speech about themselves and why they deserved the proceeds of the evening.  Then the dinner guests voted with stones for their desired charity and all networked with each other to learn of the others’ needs and to learn how they could partner together.
Danielle Smoot spoke third for the youth group, which was formed after the death of one of their peers, Cole Smoot.  She described her devastation as a mom when finding her son, Cole, dead from a methadone pill he had gotten at school the afternoon before.  Helping Family and Youth Initiatives create Cole’s Warriors program two months later, this division of FYI is a shining example of its vision, “Working hand in hand with the community to educate youth and families to make the most positive decisions for their lives.”  The youth group SHAWC began this spring with a memorial basketball game and dance in memory of Cole and as a venue for educating their peers on the dangers of using prescription drugs that are not their own.  In its fledgling year, the group hopes to expand the message to not only the students in the high school, but all schools in both Tecumseh district and all other districts.   
SHAWC as the financial winner of the evening.  They will use the money over $900 to promote prescription drug abuse awareness within the community.  But all the organizations were declared winners and leaders in their community for their care and concern for the youth in our community.  “As a newer group, SHAWC is proud and humbled to be the first grantee.  We applaud every other group we competed with and realize that they all are such good examples of how great this community is and how we can all help our youth become the people with character and respect,” says Pat Banaszak, executive director of the group.”We are very blessed to be part of this.
SHAWC is seeking youth who go to Tecumseh who are interested in helping keep drugs out of the school.   Please call Danielle, 845-0403, if you are interested in being involved or would like to learn more about the group.