East Peoria, Ill. - Several members of the Illinois Central College men's and women's basketball teams volunteered with Peoria-area students through programs through Goodwill. 

Middle school students in the "Teen REACH" after school program came to the CougarPlex with coordinator Robyn Brown on Wednesday and on Friday, students in the "GoodGuides" program came with coordinator Jennifer Shaefer.  

Women's basketball coach Karrie Redeker and men's basketball coaches Tony Wysinger, Jon Davis, Jr., and Kendall Davis hosted the students in a Q & A session where they encouraged the students to make good choices, believe in themselves, work hard, and surround themselves with good people.  The ICC coaches also discussed opportunities in athletics and other extra-curricular activities that could help students get scholarships to college. 

The students, who were actually on fall break this week, then took a tour of the CougarPlex Athletic Facility and played basketball and volleyball with the Cougar players.  

Men's basketball players who volunteered were Luke Hopp, Anthony Allison Jr., Isaiah Payne, Cooper Knoll, and Idris Thomas while the women's team had Madison Jobe, Kamryn Heider, Cora DeSutter, Kaitlin White, Emily Dana, Gracie Heckert, Lauren Maas, and Savannah Orgeron assist.

According to the Goodwill website, Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois has many ways to make the future brighter for young people in Peoria, offering youth mentoring, youth workshops and work experiences, which are all free through youth services programs.

Teen REACH After School Program
Goodwill of Central Illinois has been awarded funding through the Illinois Department of Human Services. The organization offers a Teen REACH program at Calvin Coolidge Middle School, in Peoria.  The program is for grades 5 through 8 and will runs from 3-6 pm weekdays, after school. Students receive tutoring and help with homework, conduct science experiments, plan community services projects, create artwork and much more.  The Teen REACH program has 7 core components: academic achievement, mentoring, life skills, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), recreation, service learning, and parental involvement.

GoodGuides
In 2009, Goodwill Industries began its GoodGuides program. Funded by a grant from the Department of Justice, this program helps give young people important guidance and direction via regular mentoring sessions. Mentors volunteer at least one hour of their time each week to work with youth and give them a positive role model in their lives. 

The ultimate goals of mentors in the GoodGuides program are to:

• Help students improve and keep up their grades
• Motivate them to stay in school until graduation/completion
• Give useful information on post-secondary education or careers
• Offer youth advice on important life issues
• Become a positive role model

Mentors are comprised of peers (ages 16 and up) and adults (18 and up), who volunteer for a minimum of one year in order to provide consistent guidance for youths in the program. This regular mentoring provides young people a sounding board and helping hand they might not otherwise have in their lives.