Buy A Box Of Madison House Apples And Help Kids Build A Future
Not everybody learns the same way and at the same pace. I'm a hands-on learner myself and I know a lot of people like that so it makes perfect sense to me that if a person wanted to teach kids about running a business, having them run a business would be a great idea!
At Yakima's Madison House they do just that. Students learn about the biz of business by selling and shipping apples as gifts for Christmas.
Madison House Saves and Changes Lives
But first, what is Madison House? The organization is part of the umbrella of services offered by Yakima's Union Gospel Mission. Their website says: "We believe God has a purpose for each of His children and Madison House stands to shine a light of hope into the lives of kids surrounded by intergenerational poverty, substance abuse, and gang activity."
For more than 30 years, Madison House Community Youth Center at 302 S. 4th St. has worked to help kids with homework help, guidance in personal responsibility, encouragement in character & spiritual growth, providing a safe space for young people ages 5-20, with weekly participation of 100 individuals.
Madison House Programs include:
Learning Lab for school-aged kids doing virtual learning
Mentorship
Bible studies
Fine arts opportunities
Computer training
Basic financial literacy
Field trips
Healthy athletic activities
Basketball and tennis courts
Indoor/outdoor soccer fields
Spring Flag Football program
White Pass' 'SOS Outreach'
MAD Yak bike shop
Hiking/camping trips
College scholarship guidance
Nightly meals prepared by YUGM Meal Services
Summer Camp
Order Some Apples Here
And of course, the Christmas Apple Business, the details of which you can find right HERE.
In a nutshell, (or is that an apple peel) what started out ten years ago as a mentoring program has blossomed into a creative and successful way for Madison students to save money for their future by selling boxes of high-quality Washington-grown apples. Arturo and Yoli, a couple of young apple entrepreneurs took advantage of a radio station invite to encourage everyone to buy apple gift boxes for family and friends for Christmas.