Student Leaders Prepare Meals for Paterson’s Homeless

On November 25^th, 2011, only 12 hours after having consumed Thanksgiving dinner, 15 members of the Paterson Youth Council (PYC) met at NJCDC’s headquarters on Spruce Street to prepare bagged meals for Paterson’s homeless residents.

At 9am, Manuel Martinez, the PYC Program Director, presided over the group to give an inspirational pep talk before the students began. He said, “While a lot of other students are taking a well-deserved day off after thanksgiving, I applaud your desire to give back to those that are less fortunate in our community. This act is a reminder of all that we have to be thankful for.”

After making 300 bagged lunches—which consisted of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips & juice—the students travelled to Eva’s Village on Main Street to distribute the meals.

This first-time event will become a tradition for the PYC, and many of the students used the day as a time for reflection and for giving thanks for the things in life most take for granted.

About the Paterson Youth Council

The Paterson Youth Council, organized by New Jersey Community Development Corporation, is the premier voice for the young people of Paterson, representing and engaging the youth of Paterson to create opportunities to better themselves and their community. Made up of 25-35 dynamic young residents of Paterson between the ages of 13 and 19, the youth council serves as a venue to discuss issues that concern and affect them most.

For more information on the Paterson Youth Council, or to get involved, please contact Manuel Martinez via email: mmartinez@njcdc.org.

View more PYC photos on Flickr.