TEEN COUNCIL
TEEN COUNCIL COMMENTS By: Karrington Channell Hello! My name is Karrington Channell, a sophomore at Thompson High School and a second-year member of the Alabaster Teen Council. Congratulations! We have officially made it to my favorite month of the year! November is the time I get to participate in fun events that allow me to give back to families in need, as well as give extra thanks to my extended family and eat the most delicious meal of the year! It is the season of thanks, after all! Due to Covid-19, I’m not really sure how these events will take place, but I’m really excited to share a couple of my favorite events in hopes that maybe you too will be inspired to give back to the community in some way. Let us start off with not only my favorite November event, but also my favorite event in general: I Cared Enough. I Cared Enough is an event where the members of Teen Council and other volunteers come together to serve a hot, delicious Thanksgiving meal to people in need and the elderly. This event also provides these families and individuals with free eye exams, haircuts, health checks, and groceries to take with them. During last year’s event, I was able to bag groceries and serve meals to the attendees. Before we started bagging groceries, I noticed some other volunteers unloading them from a huge truck. I remember wondering how all this food was so greatly needed and how blessed the other volunteers and myself were to be a part of something so special. I was grateful to be able to help in any way. Serving meals and meeting those wonderful people truly warmed my heart. This event made me realize how fortunate I am in life, and how lucky I am to spread a positive light and lots of love to those in need, especially on Thanksgiving. I could give a million more reasons as to why I love volunteering for I Cared Enough, but I will leave this here for now. This is always such a humbling experience, so I highly encourage you and your family to participate, if possible. Another great event that gives back directly to our community is the Canned Food Drive. Every year, there is at least one Canned Food Drive that takes place during November all across the Alabaster City School System. All the food items collected are given to families in need to help provide meals for children over the holiday break. One in four children struggle with food insecurities, so I am proud to live in a community that helps in any way they can. If you do not attend an Alabaster City School, many churches around Alabaster also participate and have food donation drop off sites that are open to the public. Please consider donating any non-perishable food items to help children and families in need. They need it now more than ever! 2020 has not been a year any of us imagined, but for me, I choose to hope and pray, and continue to find the good in all things around me. Every day, I am thankful for my family, my friends, my teachers, and my school, but I am most thankful for my health and the ability to give back to the community that has poured so much into me. Please join me and all the Alabaster Teen Council members by participating in some sort of event that gives back to the community, whether it be participating in a canned food drive, helping a neighbor, or donating to a local homeless shelter. Remember, donations come in all forms. I hope everyone has a great month and a Happy Thanksgiving! cityofalabaster.com
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