Chrissy Downs and Jacob Huckabee, representing the local JUMP group, recently received a check for $1000 from Ray Reid on behalf of local VFW Post 4620. Reid is commander of the local VFW Post. Downs is an adult leader with JUMP, "a Christ centered youth group," and Huckabee is one of the older members of the JUMP group. Accepting the check for JUMP Chrissy Downs said, "The gift was not expected but it is much appreciated."

Jacob Huckabee, a 2018 graduate of Chinook High, explained how JUMP collaborated with a group of volunteers visiting from Green Bay, Wisconsin to do service projects for individuals and other non-profits in Chinook. Among several projects completed during the week, the local JUMP members and Wisconsin volunteers brush painted the VFW's building on Pennsylvania Street and also cleaned and readied the Post's food booth at the fairgrounds for the upcoming fair.

Judge Perry Miller, also a leader with he local VFW said, "It's pretty unusual when a group approaches your organization and says, "We'd like to paint your building for you." The VFW provided the paint and JUMP and the Wisconsin volunteers provided the labor. Current Young Adult Volunteers Lacy Schimmel and Lauren LaMonica power washed the building so the volunteers could begin painting when the Wisconsin group arrived in Chinook. Moses Deamon, also a JUMP leader said, "We were able to paint the entire building in one day. With the extra manpower we were able to complete the work in a timely manner."

Downs said JUMP would use the gift from the VFW to help finance an upcoming mission trip to Green Bay. The Chinook volunteers will be serving in the same geographic area that sent volunteers to Montana. Downs said, "Our group will be working at a women's shelter and at a shelter for women and children." This is the ninth year JUMP has done a mission trip. Downs said the 21 individuals committed to make the trip to Green Bay "is a larger than usual group for our typical mission trip."

The VFW allows the local Food Pantry to use the facility for food storage and distribution. Asked how it was decided to paint the building, Chrissy Downs said, "I drive by the building every day and could tell it needed a paint job. I approached the VFW leadership and they were delighted to have some help with building maintenance."

Commenting on the volunteers helping ready the VFW's food stand at the fairgrounds, Perry Miller said, "That took a week's worth of headaches out of my life." Miller added that he thinks the volunteers offered to help the VFW because, "We also support a lot of youth programs in Chinook."

JUMP is for all youth grades 7-12. The group meets every Wednesday, during the school year, from 7-8:30 pm. Activities include worship, music, games, snacks, discussions, hangout time and fun. JUMP members also volunteer with local projects including conducting a summer vacation Bible school at Sweet Park, canvassing for the annual Community Chest and helping with a variety of events in the community.