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Chesapeake students from Chick-fil-A Leader Academy help senior citizens this Christmas
Posted 7:29 am, December 24, 2018, by Web Staff, Updated at 01:52PM, December 24, 2018
CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A group of students worked to sharpen their leadership skills by spending the day serving others.
Students selected for the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy worked for hours Saturday, assembling care packages that will be handed out for the holidays.
The program encourages students to help the people in their city who might need a little boost this holiday.
"I think the unity and the community bringing together the different resources that are available to help people in need and teaching the children how to do that how to impact their community for good is very important," said Angela Breitkreutz, Brightcross Executive Director.
The care packages are filled with donated food.
Students plan to pass out the packages to seniors across Hampton Roads.
For more on the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, click here.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) -- A handful of organizations across Hampton Roads came together to help seniors in need.
The nonprofit Brightcross, Operation Blessing, Primrose School at Cahoon Commons, Hackworth, Virginia Storage Systems and The Chesapeake Christian Women's Club worked together.
Students from Atlantic Speech and Debate, who are part of the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, also helped out to pack and distribute 125 bags with food and toiletries for the seniors.
Seniors living at Chesapeake Crossing got their morning started off with a little worship, and then they say they got their second blessing,
They got the chance to pick up everyday food items they're in need of, that many cant afford.
"Sometimes we're not able to buy fresh vegetables and things that we need and this comes in handy this is a blessing and a half," said resident Evelyn Stevens.
Last year, a fire displaced more than 100 seniors living in Chesapeake Crossing.
It was that fire that made local nonprofits gather together to help those living here.
"They didn't have to be out here, but they're out here and they're out here for us," Stevens said.
The bags were filled with things like non-perishables, fresh veggies and eggs.
Students with Atlantic Speech and Debate say the food came from a bunch of different organizations that wanted to help.
"We asked a lot of our churches and they helped us get food from food pantries and there were donations from other places and we collected food as well," said student Emma Bustetter.
And for those seniors that are homebound, volunteers took the care packages to them, making sure they wouldn't be left hungry for the holidays.
Brightcross says they work to make the care packages a monthly thing.
If you would like to donate to the cause, head over to Brightcross.org.
In Chesapeake, Virginia, one ministry is helping the homeless - by encouraging people to literally dance their shoes off!
So far, nearly 500 pairs of shoes and 100 coats have been donated as a result of this ministry. All donations were distributed through the Abba List, and you can learn more about them by going here.
Residents at Chesapeake senior home damaged by fire get care packages before holidays
POSTED: DEC 22, 2018 06:29 PM EST, BY DEANNA BETTINESCHI, UPATED: DECEMBER 24, 2018 11:34 AM EST
