John Ruggles joined our club meeting to tell us about Eagle Village.  John is a Rotarian from the Big Rapids Rotary Club and also volunteers his time traveling around the state educating others about Eagle Village.
 
Eagle Village was founded in 1968 to provide children removed from their homes the opportunity to grow, learn to love and receive treatment for challenges they were facing. Today Eagle Village has both boys and girls homes where teenagers receive necessary counseling and treatment along with leadership and life skills training, excellent education provided by the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District and opportunities for community service to ready them for returning home or to a foster, adoptive or independent living arrangement.
 
The 700 acre facility is located in Hersey, MI and houses 70 kids on campus and also treats another 50 who are living in foster care.  The ages of the residents ranges from 10 to 18 years old. The children are placed by the court system into Eagle Village. John told many inspiring stories about the positive effect that Eagle Village has had on kids who have endured very difficult situations.  
 
Eagle Village is funded 75% from Tax Dollars and 25% from private funding.  
 
How can you support Eagle Village?  John mentioned that age appropriate books are always appreciated as well as board games for the kids.  There is no internet or cell phones allowed on campus so the books and games are very popular.  John also encouraged us to visit Eagle Visit and meet the kids.