The Kids Are Alright
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By Jeremy Swiger
Newspapers and local television stations constantly run the story. A local York County youth committing some crime, or somehow in trouble again. Although the story always reads the same, is it really an accurate picture of what is going on with the youth in our community? The short answer is absolutely not.
The York County Food Bank is proud to play host to many great groups of youth volunteers, from all walks of life. Some have never spent any time in York city, and most of them have never worked at a food bank or pantry before. Each group schedules a day or set of days to come in, bring any where from four to eighteen youth volunteers and chaperones to tackle the problem of hunger in York County. Groups are provided a tour of the facility, talking about what problems face families in our county, and how we work together in the community to do whatever we can to help those in need get through this difficult period in their lives. Although the adults are often hit hardest with the statistics, to the youth, they are just numbers. When informed about the number of people their own age who are facing food insecurity, and what that means in their daily life, the kids begin to understand what is at stake. For the next several hours they are on a mission, one that they take up with vigor, working to do whatever it takes to help the local families they just learned existed. Volunteers worked in teams around the food bank, restocking shelves, picking orders, sorting food, organizing product, and helping to keep everything clean and neat in the process.
We would like to thank the many families, youth groups, mission trips, and youth programs working through out York County to make our community a better place to live and work. This includes the York Advocate Program, the York township Parks and Recreation "Volunteens", St Pat's Mission Trip Group, and many more. A big thank you to all of the kids and adults who put their time and energy into helping those in our community who need the assistance. It's good to know that the kids are alright.
For more information about how to volunteer at the York County Food Bank or to find out what your group can do to help feed those in need, contact us at jeremys@yorkfoodbank.org or call 717-846-6435 ext 104.
