News: volunteer spotlight

Teen tackles weekend hunger for Center children

When 16-year-old Andrew Kelley met with Center staff about starting a food program for the children, one fact grabbed him like no other.

"They told me the average income for their families is $9,500 a year," Andrew says. "That really struck me. That's about how much it costs for my school tuition. I couldn't believe it." Andrew went home to Shawnee thinking about children whose families don't have much food over the weekend, when the Center is closed... about kids living in places where the gas or electricity has been shut off, places that have no working stove, no refrigerator... about kids who are often in charge of younger brothers and sisters at mealtime.

He couldn't remember ever going hungry.

He made a list of foods kids like - ravioli, breakfast bars, canned fruit - foods that don't need to be refrigerated or cooked, that come in packages kids can open. Then he scoured grocery aisles all over town, comparing prices, until he had a list of 12 items he could buy for about $4, enough to keep a child's hunger at bay for a couple of days.

With a generous grant from a local company and donations from family and friends, Andrew and his parents, Mike and Julie Kelley, began a weekly ritual of filling the family car with cases of applesauce, Vienna sausages and peanut butter crackers. Their garage became the sorting and packaging hub, with Andrew's younger brothers, Ethan and Parker, and neighbors joining in.

Andrew remembers that first Friday afternoon, standing at the Center's back door, handing the children sacks of food as they rushed out to catch the bus.

"I was surprised by how happy they were," he says. "They all had big smiles. They reminded me of my little brother and his friends."

As the weeks went by, the children began to look for Andrew's sacks of goodies. They'd slap him high five and holler, "Thank you!"

"I don't think they have any idea who Andrew is," says Sister Berta. "When he hands out the bags each week, he does it with a very kind smile, but he never lets the children know that he's responsible for bringing them the food."

Says Andrew, "It doesn't really matter to me that they know where it comes from, as long as they're getting it."

Sustaining a program that costs $400 a week isn't easy. Andrew has talked to his former and current school about holding food drives, and he has met with staff from Harvesters, which operates a weekend food program through the public schools. All have pledged to help.

"I just want the kids to be OK through the weekend," Andrew says. "Hopefully, the food can be some stability in their lives."

For information about volunteer opportunities, please contact: Tara L at (816) 329-5248 or taral(at)operationbreakthrough.org