Announcing the 2022-2023 SASS Student Representatives
Saline Area Social Service (SASS) is pleased to announce the selection of Mark Girvan, Gage La Fleur, Jack Kargel, Kalle Kargel, Grace Warren, Kathryn Winter, and Jordan Wright as Student Representatives for the 2022-2023 school year.
For the length of their term, the Student Representatives will join the SASS Board Members in their policy discussions, community engagement, and help to identify student needs in the Saline Community. Each Student Representative is committing to give 1-2 hours of volunteer services at SASS each month, assisting in SASS client food distribution events and community food drives, and organizing a drive, donation event, or volunteer activity with a student group over the course of the school year.
Ms. Kargel and Ms. Winter, a junior and senior respectively at Saline High School, are returning this year for their second term as SASS Student Representatives.
“We are excited to welcome Mark, Gage, Jack, Kalle, Grace, Kathryn, and Jordan to our Board and look forward to their leadership this year,” said Betsy Marl, Student Representative Board Advisor. “Our student representatives help the Board better understand the needs of local students, and work with our staff and volunteers to help carry out the mission at SASS.”
An open application process for Student Representative positions took place late last spring. High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors were eligible to apply. SASS sought students who were passionate about fighting local food insecurity and serving their community.
SASS is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that serves the City of Saline and a portion of the surrounding townships. The organization has a 60-year history in Saline and is the only local resource that provides food and emergency relief. Of their 400+ clients, nearly 40% are children and over a third of the adults served are senior citizens. With the help of the Saline Community in 2021, SASS was able to distribute enough food for over 120,000 meals, provide back-to-school supplies and shoes, boots and snow pants to area youth, and help with emergency assistance, such as eviction, utility shut-off and car repairs.
“Student Representatives have a huge impact on our organization, providing hands-on support and serving as ambassadors in the community,” said Anne Cummings, SASS Executive Director. “Their perspective helps guide our decision-making by providing a better understanding of the diverse needs in our community.”
About Saline Area Social Service
Saline Area Social Service (SASS) is a private, tax-exempt non-profit organization that has been in the community for over 60 years and serves the most vulnerable students, families and senior citizens that live in and around the Saline area. The organization’s mission is to provide our short- and long-term aid, directly and through referrals, to its participants in need.