4th Annual Trick-or-Treat Canned Food Drive

(Dorchester, MA) On October 31, 2007, the Dorchester Youth Council hosted their 4th Annual Trick-or-Treat Food Can Drive. They went out into one of many Dorchester’s prominent neighborhoods, the Melville Park community, respectfully making a small offer to the residents: “Keep those delicious candies but, can you give us canned foods to help feed the Dorchester Community?”

There were more than 25 youth volunteers including the Dorchester Youth Council who had one goal when their feet touched the streets: Canned foods for the Dorchester pantries. The teens took the Dorchester streets by the swift movement of their sneakers and shoes.

During this time, 500 resource bags were distributed to 500 youth and families, which were hand stuffed with information by volunteers. They collected over 250 canned foods, which will be distributed to the Codman Square Pantry, the Dorchester House pantry and the Full Life Gospel Church Food pantry.

The Dorchester Youth council is a youth initiated program that engages youth ages 15-17 in the knowledge of and act of civic engagement. In this program the youth get heavily trained and are given opportunity to teach what they have learned to others, therefore increasing their skills of learning and then teaching.

Continue to look for the Dorchester Youth Council because they are hitting the streets hard with a healthy attitude coated with civic engagement. The Council and the youth volunteers were greatly inspired to do another food can drive in the Dorchester community. If teens are doing it, so can you. There is room for more young leaders to join the council but get in now because this offer rides out in November.

The Boston Globe and Boston Scientific provide major funding. To get involved with the Dorchester Youth Council and or if you have any questions, contact Grace Ejiwale at 617.822.8297 or via email at Gejiwale@scidorchester.org.