43
Youths enjoy giving back
Photo
Packing up the goodies Payton Maurer of Poland and Ciara Oslin of Boardman check the jars of Peanut butter as the Youth Volunteer corp of the interdenominational Youth Coalition packed up food and crackers at St Johns Church in Youngstown
Photo
Packing his bag of crackers soup and peanut butter Michael Syphard of Canfield and Reverend Jeremiah Williamson work together Youth Volunteer corp of the interdenominational Youth Coalition as part of the soup crackers and peanut butter to area seniors
A young person led the project, involving young people who reach out to the community.
YOUNGSTOWN — Carly Roberts, a college-age volunteer, led some 30 members of the Interdenominational Youth Coalition and Youth Volunteer Corps in a Presidents Day good-deed project.
They delivered soup, crackers and peanut butter to Goodwill Apartments, 3531 Hillman St., and Norton Manor, 1400 Springdale Ave., and visited with residents.
The effort was sponsored by HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley, formerly Volunteer Services Agencies Inc.
What set the Monday event part from the three previous projects was the fact it was volunteer-led by Roberts, a Youngstown State University student and active volunteer. In previous years, a staff member of the volunteer agency supervised.
“I’ve been involved with volunteer services for four years as part of the Teen Action Group,” she said.
Roberts said it’s rewarding to be involved in the community. “I like to get out and do things in the community instead of staying in and doing a project.”
Another aspect that made this year’s project distinctive was that Kristen Gallagher, program director of HandsOn in Trumbull County, was there to gather information to possibly start the project there. “It’s important to see it in action,” she said of the activity.
The 13- to 18-year-olds are the backbone of the project, which started with a collection of soup, peanut butter and crackers at the participating churches.
Maureen Drummond, program director at HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley, said youth leaders received information on what peanut butter would be accepted for distribution in light of the salmonella scare. “We checked it out so that there would be no fear.”
She also noted that the agency had taken on a national affiliation with the HandsOn Network.
The young people were involved in a flurry of activity from 1 to 3 p.m., starting at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave., where they packed bags of soup, peanut butter and crackers. Then, along with the adult youth leaders, they delivered packages to residents at Goodwill and Norton.
Payton Maurer and Ciara Oslin, both 14, and members of the youth group at Good Hope Lutheran Church in Boardman, participated for the first time. Payton said it was important to her to help the less fortunate. “It’s a way for us to help,” Ciara said.
The two noted hunger awareness also is part of youth projects at Good Hope, where one event gives young people a taste of what it’s like to be hungry as they fast for 30 hours.
Jourdan Pettis, 17, is a volunteer with HandsOn, and participated because he “likes to help people.”
“It helps you understand that not everyone has the privileges you do. It allows you see what’s going on the community,” Jourdan said. “It is a great feeling to help people.”
Another HandsOn volunteer, Daniel O’Neal, said he enjoyed doing things for people. “It makes you aware of people less fortunate,” the 16-year-old said. “You’re doing good and you see that carrying into your adulthood.”
Corey Zell, 15, of St. Charles Church in Boardman, has participated all four years. “I think this gives you a good experience and teaches you,” he said, noting that the recipients have limited finances. “It’s good to help the community.”
Jared Crist, 18, of North-Mar Church in Warren, came with a friend, Elizabeth Widomski, 19, of St. Charles and a participant in Thinking Christians at YSU. “I like to find new volunteer opportunities,” Widomski said. “It’s good to give back to the community,” Crist added.
Carla Hlavac, youth director at St. Patrick Church, said three participants in the middle school youth group participated. “It’s nice to get involved,” she said, and noted that they would deliver to Goodwill, which is in the church neighborhood.
Other participants were from St. Edward’s Church, St. John’s Episcopal and New Bethel Baptist Church.