By Udie Algoso and Lisa Gomes
Special to the Herald
On the last Saturday of every month, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish food pantry in Wahiawa hosts a food distribution. About a year and a half ago our parish high school youth ministry was asked to come up with ideas on how they could put their “faith into action.” Who knew that what they would eventually end up doing would help so many families, especially during the pandemic, in the Wahiawa community, and beyond.
Pre-pandemic, many of our young people were busy with school, sports, band, chorus, student government, etc. Nevertheless, they wanted to find something to which they could commit themselves. Mark and Cindy Yen, coordinators of the parish’s Senior Food Box program suggested starting up the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (T.A.N.F.) program. This program helps families with children in need. And so, our youth did!
The high school youth meet on the last Friday of each month to unpack boxes of food and prepare bags for distribution. On Saturday morning, they set up tents in the church parking lot and assist with the distribution itself. Our youth feel a real sense of being involved and helpful, and that they are doing something good. At the start of the pandemic, they saw the faces of those they are helping and are now grateful to have this opportunity to put their faith in action.
Studies show that food insecurity causes health problems for children, which may hinder their ability to function normally and participate fully in school and other activities. To address this need during this pandemic, the food pantry program kicked off a new program called Keiki Backpack, in which children of families in the T.A.N.F. program each receive backpacks filled with food and snacks.
The program was to start with the new school year, but when the pandemic hit and the numbers of families who visited the food pantry increased, the decision was made to start it earlier. That’s where our parish middle school youth ministry came in. For the last two months, on the last Thursday of the month, middle school youth unpack and organize the food donations specifically for the Keiki Backpack program, then fill the backpacks with these foods and snacks.
The parish youth ministry would like to thank Mark and Cindy Yen, and Alan Kim for their confidence in and support of our young people in this important work.
Udie Algoso and Lisa Gomes are the co-coordinators of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish’s youth ministry program. Gomes is also the director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.