Johnston Sophomore Honored for Work with Youth Homes of Mid-America

Harrison Kruse, a Johnston High School sophomore, was recently honored for his work supporting Youth Homes of Mid-America in Johnston.

The facility provides residential and community-based treatment for at-risk youths.

Because of his work for Youth Homes that Kruse was honored recently as the Central Iowa Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ outstanding youth in philanthropy for 2012, according to the Des Moines Register.

“The kids there are just like me; they’ve just been dealt some real challenges in life,” Kruse told the newspaper.

Kruse, 15, was honored by the group in November. He became interested in Youth Homes when he was asked to complete a philanthropy project for his confirmation class. His dad’s membership on the facility's board gave him the idea to speak with the director there about unmet needs at the youth home.

“He said the boys needed coats, so I decided to do a drive to collect coats, and we ended up with 40,” Kruse told the Register. “For most people, receiving a coat at Christmas would be a disappointment, but the residents there were so appreciative and happy to be thought of around the holiday season. It was a real eye-opener for me.”

The success of the coat drive spurred Kruse to do more when he learned residents were discharged from the facility usually with only a plastic garbage bag to hold their belongings.

“That really bothered me, so I talked to Wal-Mart about whether they’d be willing to donate some duffel bags,” Kruse told the newspaper. “They said I could apply for a grant to pay for the bags. I did, and the next week, a grant check for $1,000 came in the mail.”

With the grant money Kruse bought bags, clothing and toiletries for the residents. The next year, he collected enough donations to help Youth Homes put together a recreation room for residents complete with two flat-screen TVs and a ping-pong table, the newspaper said.

His other volunteer work includes the Johnston Lions Club, volunteering for the Salvation Army and serving as president of the Granger Strivers 4-H Club. The newpaper said Kruse is a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Urbandale and also owns a small business, Harrison’s Lawn Mowing and Snow Removal.

He has donated money from his business to the Variety Club of Central Iowa.

Kruse, who also is active in school activities, sets an example for the entire Johnston community, Superintendent Clay Guthmiller said.

“Harrison is truly a young person of which we all can be extremely proud,” Guthmiller told the Register. “We’d all do well to be more like Harrison. We’re very proud he is a part of the Johnston district.”