St. Charles FBLA works with Youth In Need, which is a nonprofit child and family service agency that strives to build successful and positive futures for children, teenagers, and families. FBLA’s involvement with YIN (Youth In Need) is a part of a community service project that gets members to compete for a straight to state level event. Throughout the past two years of partnership, so far around 100 hours of community service have been accumulated and nearly 100 percent of last year’s FBLA chapter participated. In addition, this gets members involved with the community and provides them with the opportunity of being able to improve someone’s life.
On Nov. 15, 2025, FBLA hosted a 5k run that was fully planned by members of the club. Anyone interested in the run was presented with a sign up sheet where they would pay a total of $20 to participate. The 5k was held at a reserved spot in a local park and included a t-shirt upon arrival as well as complimentary water and donuts received from FBLA and Donut King’s partnership. As a successful result of raising money, FBLA was able to present a $1,000 check to YIN that will go towards their variety of programs.
Prior to the 5k run, FBLA participated in “The BoatLoad of Toys.” This was an event run by YIN and 93.7 the Bull at our local Bass Pro Shops. Anyone in the community was able to purchase toys and throw them into a boat that would then get donated to children who weren’t able receive toys for Christmas. If community members were unable to give toys, another option was available where money could simply be donated in order for YIN to purchase these toys. FBLA members played a role in this by loading all the toys into a truck, organzing toys by category, and putting toys as well as gift cards into bags for children based on their wishlist.
For upcoming events, FBLA is currently working to get more fabric in order to make blankets for the homeless as the weather continues to get colder throughout winter.
Juniors Caitlyn Buchholtz and Isabelle Eaton are very involved with YIN and often even assist FBLA sponsor Wendy Kirchhofer in the planning and attendance of events. Buchholtz and Eaton received the very first Outstanding Youth Partner award of YIN as recognition for all their contributions.
Buchholtz likes having such a positive impact on her community specifically.
“I enjoy directly impacting my community and improving their lives. I think it is more special when it is people that live so close and go the same places as you” she said.
Eaton likes to work with this group because it allows her to be a part of something bigger than herself.
“I love to help the people around me that are struggling. Although the help we provide may not be a lot, I love to think about all of the ways the little things we are able to help with contribute to a bigger cause,” Eaton said.
