It feels good to help others.

It improves the community.

It’s just plain fun.

Those are among the reasons why some young Lawrence people volunteer. And interest in service work seems to be growing.

About 45 young people showed up Wednesday at the Lawrence Public Library for the first organizational meeting of the Youth Volunteer Council of Douglas County. The new group will promote youth volunteerism, plan service activities and recognize youth volunteers in the community.

Keeping busy

Some young people already give their time to make Lawrence a better place to live.

Kate Falkenstien, 11, helps people with visual impairments enjoy part of the Sunday newspaper.

Since last summer, the Hillcrest School sixth-grader has gone once a week to Audio-Reader at Kansas University, where she reads aloud the new issues of USA Weekend magazine. Her voice is taped and can later be accessed by people who aren’t able to see well enough to read.

Kate also used to read aloud the food ads placed in the newspaper by local grocery stores, so that people could find out what’s on sale that week.

“But I don’t do that anymore,” she said. “I didn’t like reading about meat (in the ads) Â I’m a vegetarian.”

She volunteers her time for several reasons: “It feels good to help people, and it’s kind of fun. It’s something to do, and I like to do it.”

Dayna Brown, 11, extends her love of animals to those at the Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St.

Dayna, a fifth-grader at Riverside School, goes with her mother to the shelter at least one time each week, spending from two to five hours there. She walks the dogs and plays with them, and spends time socializing with the cats.

Children need to be at least 12 to volunteer on their own at the shelter, so Dayna’s mom  also a trained volunteer  accompanies her.

“I love it a lot. I like working with animals,” Dayna said. “I like helping them since they don’t have a home. Volunteering with them makes them have a nicer life while they’re at the shelter, and it makes me feel good.”

Dayna enjoys animals: She has two cats of her own  Phoebe and Cleo  and rides horses in competitive barrel races.

Learning about yourself

Ashley Wilson, 16, has taken on a lot of responsibility in her volunteer work.

The Lawrence High School sophomore serves as a youth representative on the Community Coalition of Douglas County Rape Victim-Survivor Service.

Ashley’s the youngest member of the coalition, serving alongside doctors, nurses, school principals and representatives from the city of Lawrence, nonprofit groups and KU.

She has been active with the organization for two years, helping with prevention and education programs in schools.

“Sometimes rape isn’t something (young) people take seriously,” Ashley said. “I overhear them making jokes about it. I stick my finger in their face and tell them it’s a really hard thing to go through.

“It’s unfortunate that it has to happen to somebody close to you before you realize the magnitude of it, and it becomes a real issue,” she said.

Ashley wants to go through the training needed in order to work directly with rape or sexual harassment victims.

“Volunteering is a good way to get involved with your community,” Ashley said. “It’s a good life experience. I’ve been exposed to things I probably would not have learned otherwise. I’ve discovered things, even about myself.”