Poverty is a real problem in the United States — more than one in ten people are below the poverty line — but for many of us it’s easy to forget that some people struggle just to get food on the table each day. It can be especially tough in winter. That’s not even considering the number of people who are out on the streets and struggle to get anything at all. That’s why Cornerstone Christian High School’s PULSE Club is organizing a food drive for the Bellevue Food Pantry.
The school’s PULSE Club aims to promote and contribute to community service projects. It’s a great way for young members of Bellevue to learn how satisfying volunteer service can be.
And in fact, that’s the point.
Katheryn Rice serves as PULSE’s president. She said that it was commissioned so that students might have the opportunity to give back some of what they might take for granted. Rice said, “They just wanted to go out into the community and connect and do service and tell more people about God.”
PULSE Club stays functional with the help of an average of ten students each year.
“I’m very big on service,” Rice added. “That’s a big part of my life. I love that we’re able to connect with the community through service and help out wherever the school needs help. People won’t join unless they know what it’s about, so every meeting I try to talk about what we’re doing and what’s coming up and background of events we’re doing.”
She hopes that the food drive will be a great boon to the community, but also that more students will join the cause.
Efforts are in full swing in the days before Thanksgiving.
For those interested in volunteer activities, the Bellevue Christian Center would like to enlist community residents to participate in its “Feed the Multitudes” Thanksgiving dinner. The event serves hundreds of individuals based on need, but it’s also a great way to build relationships with other members of the community through Thanksgiving dinner.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 27 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1400 Harvell Drive. Volunteers are asked to arrive an hour early.
If you would like to donate to the Bellevue Food Pantry, organizers are looking for more “canned broth, canned vegetables, canned pumpkin, canned pie filling, canned cranberries, canned fruit, boxed jello, boxed stuffing mix, instant potatoes, gravy, dry seasonings, apples, lemons, vegetables, beans, meat, raisins, granola bars, breakfast bars, trail mix, nuts, peanut butter, cleaning supplies, toiletries, socks, underwear, laundry supplies, blankets, diapers and wipes, baby blankets, feminine hygiene products, coats, scarves, hats, and gloves.”
