- Last Updated on Monday, 30 December 2019 02:47
By Jill Runfola
The Monessen Salvation Army demonstrates the true charitable heart of the season when they unite youth with elders during their ‘Teen Giving to Nursing Homes’ event.
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| Dedicated youth from Belle Vernon are L-R: Jordan Egler, NicholasVukelji, Paula Vukelji, and Morgan Grimplin. Captain Sue Thwaite is in the back row. |
On Saturday, November 30, 2019, the Monessen Salvation Army on 308 Schoonmaker Ave. hosted a party for a dozen local teens to wrap then deliver over 300 gifts to area nursing homes. Youth enjoyed holiday music, hot cocoa, pastries, and pizza while preparing to go out and spread their own joy! Teen participants received ‘Come Join Our Army’ t-shirts.
“The teen party is a blend fun and community service,” said Captain Susan Thwaite of The Salvation Army. “Our goal is to turn this into a monthly opportunity to build community service and also have something to do outside the Mon-Valley.”
The teens who volunteered that day found the experience to be rewarding. “I just thought it’d be nice to do for older people,” said Amir Butler, age 14. While Morgan Grimplin, age 13, of Belle Vernon, stated that she volunteers “to give to the people who don’t have much.”
