Have you
ever seen a homeless person on the side of the road with a pet. Many sad
questions most likely run through you mind. For example, how do the person and
pet both eat? The answer in most cases is both of them don’t. The person will
have to make a choice to feed themselves or their pet. This is if they even
have access to food. Soup kitchens have food for humans but not animals, so the
pets that are actually getting food are getting food that does not properly
nourish them. While this was happening, at Foodlink people were donating pet
food and they didn’t have a purpose for it. So the donated pet food went to
waste and hungry pets didn’t eat or get the proper nutrition they needed.
Luckily the Rebel Beat Youth of Webster UCC noticed this. They were very
concerned by what was happening and wanted to fix it. So they spoke up against
this injustice and came up with a solution. They came up with the Webster UCC
Pet Food Pantry. How this will work is Foodlink will bring the previously
unused pet food to Webster UCC in the new Pet Food Pantry room. It will be
stored their until it is needed and then distributed to the proper places.
However a lot of work had to be done before this could be possible. The Youth
had to coordinate with Foodlink and also create the space needed to store the
pet food, as well as coordinate with the organizations that could distribute
the food. The Youth as always were up to the challenge. The Youth leader Wendy
Lesko talked to Foodlink and told them their goal, and Foodlink was happy to
help. Then the Youth then rolled up their sleeves and got to work. They cleaned
out the old middle school room. They moved shelves, couches, and supplies down
to the High School Youth room. Lowell Edwards put in shelves that wrap around
the entire room. Thanks to his generosity the Pet Pantry could now be used.
After that Wendy worked her magic again and coordinated with meals on wheels.
They will pick up the pet food and distribute it to the needy who have pets. In
addition a few Youth came into Church on Wednesday and Thursday to help set up
and organize the pet pantry. Now because the whole church worked together both
people and their pets will not go hungry. This Pet Pantry not only brings good
to the community by feeding pets who are in need, but shows the good people can
do when they work together. Too often people fight against each other or
prematurely judge others. The Rebel Beat Youth ministry shows by working with
the entire congregation at Webster UCC that people of all ages and from all backgrounds
can work side by side to accomplish something truly fonomlinal. With the help
of the community and Webster UCC the Youth hope to keep accomplishing great
things and enriching the community.
Kelsey Norton
Note from the Youth:
We would sincerely like to thank all
the people who support us and help us to accomplish all our goals. We will
continue to work hard for the church and community. We are inspired by all the
good in the world, and that includes the hard work of Webster UCC. The Pet Pantry
is only one of the many things that we will work on to be the hands, feet, and
heart of Jesus. We are just beginning so watch out, we got so much more
planned.
The Youth of Webster UCC
