Despite the ongoing pandemic, new school schedules, and changes to every aspect of life, our Global Youth Leaders continue to care about and serve our local community. Twenty-seven volunteers (including a few parents!) have spent over 200 hours packing and sorting food at the Village Exchange Center in Aurora. The Village Exchange Center is a community center that collaborates with critical programs for refugee, immigrant and local communities. They offer space to the community to celebrate religious and cultural diversity and, since COVID-19 affected the community, have served as a food bank for local residents. Over 3,000 people are fed through their food bank each week which means they needed volunteers to pack and sort food. Our Global Youth Leaders stepped up and have been helping almost weekly since early May to create food bags for those in need. Several students have said that being able to get out of their homes and volunteer in a safe and welcoming place has improved their mental health and outlook on life. They see a huge need in the community and feel that they can actually do something to help. We’ll continue to volunteer weekly at the Village Exchange and serve our neighbors! If you’d like to volunteer to pack and sort food or deliver food, click here!
