In a remarkable display of creativity and community spirit, YouthBuild proudly emerged as the winner of the Best Float award at the Great Mt. Vernon Christmas Light Fight Parade on December 6th. This success story began with a simple conversation among the members of the YouthBuild Council. The group was eager to engage in a community project, but with the busy holiday season upon them, time was of the essence.
Initially, the group considered replicating last year’s effort of collecting donations for a local nursing home. However, realizing the limited time available, YouthBuild staff suggested entering the Christmas parade instead. This idea sparked excitement among the participants, setting the stage for their upcoming project.Once a trailer was secured, the next challenge was to choose a theme for the float. The options included The Grinch (live-action), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and an Enchanted Forest. Ultimately, the Grinch was selected as the winning theme. The team then decided to recreate two memorable scenes from the film: the Cheermister scene and the mailroom scene. Lynn, the YouthBuild Class President, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Playing the Grinch was silly but a lot of fun. I was very proud of it, and I loved it!”
The hard work and dedication of the YouthBuild members paid off when they were announced as the winners of the float competition. Beccah McConnaughay, a YouthBuild staff member, described the moment, saying, “When they told us we won, I couldn’t believe it. We all started jumping up and down and high-fiving each other. I was so proud of the work each and every one of them put into the float, and it really showed.
“This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of the community. Our YouthBuild Construction Trainers, Rick Daniels and Russel Hayes, made building the throne a reality. YouthBuild also received several donations to help create the float, including two Christmas trees, cardboard from SCI Box, LLC to build Max’s dog house, and white tablecloths from Rebecca Payne to simulate snow. Lights borrowed from the Spero main campus added the perfect finishing touch to the float.
The YouthBuild float not only won an award but also fostered a sense of pride and teamwork among its members. Their dedication to creativity, community involvement, and holiday spirit truly made this year’s parade a memorable event. As they look forward to next year, the YouthBuild team is already dreaming up new projects to continue making a positive impact in their community.
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