On August 1, 2023, CYCG proudly participated the 2023 Howard County National Night Out Event, hosted by Howard County Police Department at Wilde Lake Middle School, 6pm to 9pm. Among 61 vendors, CYCG was the only student-led organization. 

CYCG's DIY Bokashi Buckets turned out to be the most popular giveaway booth in the event. Students distributed 90 DIY buckets with DIY water bottle inserts, 1 pound bags of Bokashi bran, and educational brochures. CYCG also hosted an upcycling booth to teach kids how to make paper bracelets. Both programs were sponsored by the Howard County Youth Engagement Program (YEP!). Residents visited the booth and learned about the easy and simple indoor composting method. The event went very successfully and CYCG received a lot of accomplishments for their efforts.

CYCG is thrilled to be selected as the winner of the 2023 Howard County Youth Engagement Program (YEP!) Grant. The YEP! Grant promotes youth activities and engagement in Howard County through free, accessible, and supportive programming developed by nonprofit and community organizations.

CYCG will run its innovative EnvSmart Project to promote environmental sustainability, composting, and upcycling. CYCG students will make, distribute, and educate HoCo residents how to use our FREE DIY Bokashi Buckets--worth about $70 on Amazon--for easy, green indoor composting. They also plan to run a 6-week free summer upcycling art camp. Please tune for more details.

April 22 was the Earth Day! Some CYCG students celebrated the Earth Day by picking up trash in River Hill High School fields and playground. They have arranged multiple local trashing picking events when weather is allowed. 

CYCG was honored with the Certificate of Appreciation by the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Board of Education as one of the 2023 Friend of Education honorees.

This award was created in 2001. It recognizes individuals, businesses, or organizations for innovative or unique volunteer contributions that are significant in scope and that support the school system’s mission of excellence in teaching and learning through advocacy or direct work with students. The Howard County Board of Education has established the Friends of Education Award to recognize and show appreciation to those who have made exemplary contributions.

CYCG was recognized for its innovative Teacher Care Kits initiative in which CYCG handmade 1700+ school themed COVID face mask kits to 64 HCPSS schools in 2021, and HCPSS Strong initiative, in which CYCG handmade 1000 Pencil bag Kits to HCPSS teachers, staff, and bus drivers in 2022. CYCG empowers students by hosting various creative service programs. CYCG is the first-ever student group who got recognized for this award in its 23 years. CYCG student Amanda Wang was nominated for the 2022 Friend of Education award for her extradentary leadership and community service during the pandemic. 

More than 21,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured by the powerful earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, Feb 6.  
 
CYCG quickly took action to support people impacted by the earthquake. They decided to donate newly handmade DIY blankets to Turkey. CYCG has already handmade and donated another 140 blankets to local hospitals and homeless shelters this winter. CYCG immediately set up 4 collection sites (3 in Clarksville and one in Ellicott City) to collect winter clothes, tents, sleeping bags, and OTC medicines from the community. CYCG received overwhelming support from the community, and many students volunteered to help. 
 
On Feb 10 and Feb 11, CYCG proudly donated 123 brand-new blankets with student-designed encouraging cards and 1000+ winter clothes. The in-kind donation will be sent to Turkey through Turkish Airlines over the weekend.
 
CYCG stopped donation collection since the Turkish embassy won’t accept winter clothes anymore.

CYCG Winter Blanket Drive went successfully. With CYCG making more impact in local communities, 20 more students joined this program recently. 
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On January 16, 2023, 50 more blankets were donated to Humanim, a nonprofit organization in Columbia who has 50 years of history to supporting and empowering the individual. Thanks to Michael Shi for coordinating this donation. So far, CYCG has donated 250+ blankets for homeless shelters, Children's House and hospitals. Volunteer students are still working on another 2 donations. 

CYCG hosted an award ceremony to celebrate its achievements and successes at Elkridge Library on Dec 22, 2022. During the past 3 years, 150+ volunteer students made a positive impact in the community via the programs and events that CYCG has provided. State Delegate and formal HCPSS BoE, Chao Wu, and HCPSS current BoE Member, Yun Lu, presented the students' awards and delivered inspiring speeches.

In 2020, CYCG made 3600+ reusable DIY face shields and donated them to 100+ hospitals, clinics, and first responder groups across 7 states.

In 2021, CYCG handmade 1700+ Techer Care Kits for 64 HCPSS schools to support the school community. CYCG won national recognition, the Maryland Governor's recognition, and was featured on ABC TV during Teacher Appreciation Week.

In 2022, funded by the HoCo Innovation Grant, CYCG extended their care to the larger school community to support teachers, staff, and bus drivers. CYCG collaborated with many local organizations to achieve the goal and delivered 1000+ Appreciation Kits to 50 HCPSS schools and offices. The project was showcased at the Miller Library during September of 2022. 

CYCG also won the Rise to the Challenge with Sunrise Distinction Award for their extraordinary service during the pandemic. During the award ceremony, students were awarded President's Volunteer Service Awards, Committed to Service Awards, Rising Artist Awards, Quality Service Awards, and the Volunteer of the Year Award! 

Currently, 50+ students are making blankets for hospitals, homeless shelters, or local needed families. 

In February 2022, CYCG donated 90 handmade blankets to the COVID Unit at the Howard County General Hospital (HCGH). One COVID patient who received the warm blanket during her stay wrote to CYCG and donated to CYCG to support the local inspiring youth group. 

On December 22, 2022, CYCG Vice President Amanda Wang donated 40 beautiful blankets handmade by CYCG volunteer students to the HCGH. They are making more blankets to spread the joy and warmth during the winter!

Christmas is a season of giving!

Last winter, CYCG delivered 90 blankets to the Howard County General Hospital. On Dec 17, 2022, CYCG partnered with the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras (BSYO) and delivered joyful music and 51 beautiful handmade blankets to the BELIEVE IN TOMORROW CHILDREN’S HOUSE AT JOHNS HOPKINS. They are working on making more! 

On Nov 22,2022, CYCG President Arthur Wang delivered 73 handmade Thanksgiving gift packages to HCPSS Partnership Office. These school-themed pencil pouches were handmade by volunteer students, filled with school supplies and goodies, and will be delivered to HCPSS staff, teachers, and bus drivers.  CYCG has donated 1000 Appreciation kits to HCPSS since back-to-School week.
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Thanks to all HCPSS teachers, staff, and bus drivers for what you have done for the students! Thanks for helping them bloom!