RED CROSS PLROGRAM, LEARN-SERVE, TO END AS FUNDING RUNS OUT

Laurie Primonato, 16, wants to be a doctor. She is well on her way. Primonato has been teaching first-aid techniques and CPR to children thanks to the American Red Cross Learn and Serve program. The community program has trained more than 35 young people in this area and has reached more than 3,000 people in through community educational programs.

But, because of lack of funds, the program is ending.

"We are looking for more funding," said Mary Burton, director of the Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross. "Program money has been cut and we need to beat the bushes for other grant opportunities, individual donations and sponsors to keep the program going."

The federally funded Learn and Serve program is administered by the Corporation for National Services. CNF also umbrellas the federal programs AmeriCorps, SeniorCorps and VISTA.

Learn and Serve was run on a three-year grant that is ending.

Dodie Chang, service learning manager of the Mid-American Red Cross, said after three years the program was to be self-sustaining in each community.

"The program money was not cut, rather the federal government won't allow us (Red Cross) to reapply for another grant," she said.

Chang said the grant was to be a help to get the community program started. "In the third year of the program the local Red Cross chapters, who have the program, were to match the 30 percent of the funding." She said community sponsors are needed to keep the program funding and functioning.

The Southeast Missouri Chapter office needs funding for books and educational materials.

Burton said Learn and Serve has benefited the community and has helped children enter medical careers.

"It is a springboard to go on to a career. It is a wonderful background for a resume and it gives experience in dealing with problems in everyday life," she said.

Learn and Serve has three basic areas of concentration based on a peer educator concept:

-- Standard first-aid training for students who are in fourth grade or older.

-- Basic aid training for fourth-graders and younger students.

-- FACT-First-aid for children kindergarten through third grade.

Burton said children can learn first-aid at any age. "As long as they can sit in a class and behave themselves they can learn," she said.

Certification for the program requires testing.

Primonato, who has been teaching first-aid to Scout troops, said the program was a good experience.

"It was fun. I liked seeing the little kids' faces when I was teaching them and hear the first-aid stories they would tell me; they were so cute."

She said she is upset the program is ending. "I think it's awful. We should be able to get out and teach this information."