By Vega
“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’”
A young girl reaches out and hands you a care package. It’s for you. Just for you. As you stand in line for a food basket with your parents, some of the sting is soothed by this kind gesture. This idea was hatched in the minds of a local youth group, from the Youth Matters Now program, part of the Community Services Agency.
The all-female youth group will be distributing snack packs and personal care items to children ages 13 and under as part of a community service project for a leadership building course at CSA. A booth will be set up in front of St. Vincent’s Food Pantry, on Thursday July 24th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. St. Vincent’s is located at 500 East Fourth Street in Reno.
DeAndrea Ceccarelli, employment placement manager at CSA, said this project appealed you this youth group because they can relate to the age group. All the volunteers in the youth group are same age range of the children they are trying to reach. Ceccarelli said this makes the project much more rewarding.
The children who will benefit from these gifts belong to working families who struggle to make ends meet. Most of the clients who receive a monthly food basket simply don’t make enough money to feed their family.
Scott Cooksley, St. Vincent’s food pantry director, said this is a fantastic idea. He notes that most of the children waiting in line each day rarely get handed something that is truly just for them. He thinks the gesture will have a greater impact coming from someone their own age.
For more information contact:
Auburn Harrison (775) 322-7073
DeAndrea Ceccarelli (775)786-6023
