CAITLIN CROSS
2004-2005 Outstanding Young Volunteer of the Year Award
Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

  Fifteen-year-old Caitlin Cross of Baxter, Minn., daughter of Mark and Nancy Cross, who has been volunteering since the age of four, is the 2004-2005 National Outstanding Young Volunteer of the Year Award recipient.   
     National President JoAnne M. Ott will present her with a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond and plaque at the 92nd National Convention of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Monday, August 22, 2005.   
     Sponsored by Mahlum Hanson VFW Auxiliary #1647 in Brainerd, Minn., she was among 27 state candidates entered in the national contest, which recognizes students aged 12-15 who have provided extraordinary volunteer service to their communities.       
      This past year she put together a coalition to send care packages to service men and women through Operation Interdependence, a civilian-to-military delivery system. She contacted members of the Crow Wing Civil Air Patrol to help her solicit businesses for Ziploc bags and collaborated with eight elementary schools in Independent School District #181 to serve as collection sites. She contacted the media, a local casino and a racetrack for assistance and found everyone more than willing to help. As a result of her efforts, items were sent to 2,000 troops and $1,000 was donated to cover postage.  
      In his written nomination of Caitlin, Captain Matthew Heffron, Deputy Commander of Seniors, Crow Wing Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol, said, “Caitlin is an amazing young woman who had the vision to develop and implement a huge undertaking in our community. Because of her efforts, Operation Interdependence was a huge success.” 
      In December she represented Operation Interdependence on a national tour, talking to other young people about getting involved and explaining that they, too, can make a difference.  
     Other activities during the past year include co-chairman of the 4th of July parade, serving on the Youth As Resources Board, and organizing Arts in the Park and the Mutiple Sclerosis walk.  
     At four, she helped her mom cook chili for the United Way Chili Cook-Off. She has also mentored younger children in school, taught a dance class for 5-and 6-year-olds at the YMCA, worked the start line for a dogsled race, volunteered in the kitchen of a senior center for their pancake breakfast fundraiser, helped with Brunch with Santa, worked with the merchants during the Mosquito Fest, and helped organize the Christmas parade and festivities.