Youngster brings joy to Rescue Mission kids
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
A 9-year-old boy spent his own money to throw a pizza party Friday afternoon for the 30 children currently staying at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.
Jason Quesada was inspired to fund the pizza party on Thursday evening after his grandmother, Judith Gibson, told him about the children staying at the mission on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Jason asked his grandmother if he could buy each of the children at the mission three toys using his own money, but his grandmother said he likely couldn’t afford such a purchase. Instead, the boy opted for a pizza party.
On Friday, Gibson helped her grandson order pizzas and purchase groceries to give to the children at the mission.
He spent his money – which he was saving in order to buy an Xbox One – to purchase 12 pizzas, bread sticks and groceries. He and his grandmother then delivered the items to the mission.
Lynn Wyant, the Rescue Mission’s director of development, said the boy and his grandmother were warmly received at the mission.
“The adults here were thrilled. They helped Jason carry the food in and they were thanking him, and someone said, ‘Way to go little dude,’” Wyant said. “Our new kitchen manager came to my office to tell me about it and she had tears in her eyes.”
Mission officials said they will give Jason a special plaque next week in a show of appreciation for his donation.