Teens helping teens, as Mount Pearl students cook meal for homeless youth
A group of high school students in Mount Pearl are coming together to cook for those in need.
Students at Mount Pearl Senior High School are participating in a food sharing program and cooking up meals to send to homeless teens in St. John's.
Why are more young adults needing homeless help in St. John's?
Each Thursday after the bell rings and school gets out for the day, the students plan to meet to prepare a meal for those who access Choices for Youth's homeless services.
The food they're cooking will go to help other teens in need, and in exchange for their help each student will receive volunteer hours they need to graduate.
They're all working together — no one has their cell phones out — and they're giving.- Erin Coates
For their first meal, the students made a main course of goulash, with banana chocolate chip muffins for dessert.
Grade 10 student Caroline Sutton said she was excited to help out.
"It makes me feel really good that I'm actually doing something to directly help the lives of other people in the community," she said.
"I love being able to feel like I'm actually helping someone directly."
Choices For Youth representative Robert Cahill said the food being prepared by the students can make a world of difference for a person in need.
"It means a meal and I know to a lot of people that is a given, but these guys are trying to break down barriers, they are trying to jump hurdles and it's impossible on an empty stomach," said Cahill.
"This is fuel for them to get over and get on with their lives."
Program revived
A similar program was in operation at the school several years ago, and teacher Erin Coates said it felt right to start it up again.
"It worked out really well a few years ago when we did this," Coates said.
"We wanted to bring it back because it's really good to see the kids working for a cause.
"They're all working together — no one has their cell phones out — and they're giving back to the community."
While the school plans to continue the program indefinitely, Coates said the program costs a lot of money.
Each week, the school needs to purchase enough groceries to feed approximately 15 young people at Choices for Youth.
"We're assuming it's going to cost us about $1,000 to $1,500 for the year to keep this going, so anyone who wanted to donate could certainly contact our school, contact myself, and get involved," said Coates.
"That would be greatly appreciated."
In the meantime, plans are going full speed ahead to bring a meal to the table next Thursday.
The recipe? A school classic: pizza flavoured mac and cheese.
