Some North Hall area teens are stepping up to help solve a serious problem some of their fellow students face with back to school just around the corner.
Every year some students and their families dread back to school time because they just don't have the clothes and school supplies they need. This is true whether the student is just starting PreK or is a senior in high school. Several area ministries and businesses offer back to school help. Yet need always exceeds supply.
This year these teenagers decided to take matters into their own hands and out of their own closets. After finding out about Caring Hands Ministries' 20th annual Back to School Give Away from a friend and teen volunteer, they decided to help their own by going through their closest to find as much as they could give, encouraging their families to do the same. One teen, Kaleigh Trejo from Gainesville, even shared it on social media in hopes of encouraging others to make donations.
These kids, including Kendyl Johnson of Clermont, and Jeremiah Wallace from Gainesville, didn't hesitate to agree to go to through their things to find whatever they could to donate. Several more teenage contributors volunteered their clothing to make sure every child had something to wear for school. North Hall's Kayleigh Trejo took to social media to encourge other teens to help. Others as well as some neighborhood groups and families are collecting new school supplies and taking them to Caring Hands Ministries to supplement the supplies that Americans Helping Americans sends for students here each year.
Last year Caring Hands Ministries provided clothes and school supplies to over 600 ranging in age from preschoolers to teens.
Erica Hernandez, Caring Hands Director of the Food Ministry said of the teens' actions "It's great for kids to give back to the community." The Executive Director of the Ministry, Ann Fleming, agrees. "It shows that anyone, no matter of their age, can do something to help those around them, whether they know them or not.“
Caring Hands Ministries still needs donations to serve all the students expected at the give away , including gently used clothing, backpacks, shoes, and new school supplies. Monetary donations are also accepted for the purchase of new school supplies with tax receipts available upon request.
Anyone who wants to volunteer time for setting up or clean up, wants more information, or to inquire about how to donate, can contact Caring Hands Ministries at 706-219-1980. To make donations, contact Erica Hernandez at 706-969-2258, and drop-offs can be given at the Caring Hands Ministries office anytime until the day of the giveaway.
Any parent or grandparent is welcome to come get what their children need for school at Caring Hands Ministries 20th Annual Back to School Giveaway, which takes place Monday July 31, from 5:00-8:00, on a 'first come, first serve' basis.
The location is 6483B Cleveland Hwy (Hwy 129), Clermont, in the same building as Papa's Pizza.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This press release was written by Kaylyn Hernandez an 11th grade student, with some minor editing by AccessWDUN's Ken Stanford.)
