Clemence Youth Foundation Volunteers Make a Difference at Houston Food Bank
HOUSTON,TX– The Clemence Youth Foundation (CYF) is an organization with over 200 registered members that is dedicated to empowering youth. By hosting events with opportunities to connect with the Houston community, CYF helps young people build character and become valuable members of society. One crucial aspect of contributing to society is helping out those who are in need. Thus, in 2024, CYF organized a series of monthly volunteer events at the Houston Food Bank.
Found in 1982, the Houston Food Bank is an organization that provides balanced meals to households that struggle with access to nutritious food. Serving 18 counties, it is a cornerstone with the goal of fighting the income gap by building long-term solutions to maintain a higher quality of life for underserved families. The CYF members are dedicated to furthering this inspirational goal, in order to make a true impact on the local population.
The foundation‘s inaugural volunteer shift on July 27th, 2024 marked the beginning of a fruitful partnership with the Food Bank. Over 20 enthusiastic volunteers, both students and adults, arrived with an ambition to provide their services to the organization. The first task we were assigned to was the packaging room, where we collaborated with other volunteers to unpack boxes, assemble packages to be donated, and recycle the unused materials. Each member was assigned to a specific task, and once everyone was familiar with their roles, the group worked like a well-oiled machine. Everyone learned to work together and help other people who were struggling, to result in a successful session. This set the stage for future events on August 25th, September 28th, October 20th, and November 23rd, and together with the other volunteers, we helped pack a total of 46,462 meals to households with food insecurity!
In subsequent volunteer shifts, CYF members continued to show up, growing in numbers by the month. By November, 50 kids and 25 adults have been committed to this event and are always ready to undertake a variety of tasks, including sorting donations, categorizing items, and packing fresh produce. The organization's commitment to fostering a sense of responsibility for the community has inspired its members to work tirelessly, often exceeding expectations, to ensure the success of each volunteer event. Altogether, this paints an inspirational story of how dedicated members have come together with the objective of helping out the Houstonian population.
Through these experiences, CYF volunteers have not only made a tangible impact, but have also developed invaluable life skills such as teamwork, perseverance, and empathy. By dedicating their time to volunteer work, CYF is empowering young people to become active and compassionate citizens.
Finally, we would like to thank the Houston Food Bank for hosting us and teaching the volunteers such vital life lessons. In addition, we would like to extend our gratitude to the Clemence Youth Foundation, Ms. Clemence, and Ms. Lu for making all of this possible!
（Editor: Zhiling Zhang）