BETHEL, Ohio — A non-profit in southern Ohio is bringing together all kinds of groups to help pack weekend food bags for kids who need them.
Empower Youth delivers to about 1,080 students near their home base in Bethel, Ohio.
What You Need To Know
- Empower Youth delivers about 1,080 weekend meal packs for students in and around Bethel, Ohio
- Students from Live Oaks Career Campus assemble some of the meal packs each week
- Because of the rising cost of food, Empower Youth is asking for donations of canned soup and other non-perishable food products
Organizers say some of their best volunteers are regulars from Live Oaks Career Campus in Milford. They’re part of Career X — a training program for students with special needs.
“It is amazing to see how they communicate together, how they love what they’re doing, how they love serving others,” said Scott Conley, executive director of Empower Youth.
“We have great peers,” said Alan Villeda, a student at Live Oaks.
“I feel like any time we’re together, we can work faster with each other and pretty much we have fun when we’re doing it,” Villeda said.
“It kinda feels like a family — or a team on a cooking competition,” said Live Oaks student Magali Pal.
They’re all winners as far as Conley is concerned.
“When things really get in a pinch and (we’re) trying to find groups and stuff to help pack and that, this group always fills the voids and we couldn’t do what we do without them,” Conley said.
Conley says they’re now asking volunteer groups to bring cans of soup and other items to pack because of the rising cost of food. He said that a case of Chicken Noodle Soup has more than doubled in price, from $9 to more than $20.
Conley said he’s more grateful than ever for the volunteers from Live Oaks and others who consistently donate much-needed help. The students say the experience is priceless to them.
“I think this is an amazing opportunity for me because I love helping people and donating my time to people,” said Villeda. “It’s amazing and it makes me feel warm inside to know that someone is getting food and getting to eat dinner.”
“And I feel proud of myself for helping people in need,” said Pal.
