Local Youth Help South Oak Cliff Families

Carroll Middle and Durham Intermediate students from the community-based organization, Students Standing Strong, along with parents and other volunteers, gathered at Youth World, a Dallas Learning Center for at-risk youth, to be a part of an annual food drive for families in the South Oak Cliff area.

During the event, over 60 families were given Thanksgiving meals, including a turkey, a bible, and other “turkey-day” necessities. The families had a choice of what pie they preferred and what language of Bible that they wanted.

Several students were paired up with each family and sent through the buffet-like food distribution. Directly following, each group would pray with the family, and walk them to their car.

The affair was set up by a brilliant group of women, consisting of: Angie Rose, Darla Shirley, Michelle Winn, and Kimberly Sawler. Angie and Michelle are both moms who are a part of Students Standing Strong along with their children, while Darla is the operator of Youthworld. Kimberly was the main reason why so many families could be a part of the blessing.

Kimberly runs a food pantry called Food for the Soul, set up in a building close to the Kroger Distribution Center in Keller. She donated more than three fourths of her pantry, in faith, to the members of Students Standing Strong, just five days before the event was set to occur.

Youthworld is always looking for volunteers to help bless the lives of the people around them. The faces of the parents and children of the families said a thousand times more than any of the numerous “thank  you” comments shared.