Being ‘too young’ can’t stop your changing the world

Payten Furr of St. Agnes Church in Mena sorts donated food during an afternoon of volunteering at Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock.
Payten Furr of St. Agnes Church in Mena sorts donated food during an afternoon of volunteering at Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock.
Patrick Gallaher, executive director of Catholic Charities of Arkansas, challenges youth to serve in their communities during the Catholic Charities Summer Institute. Dwain Hebda photo
Patrick Gallaher, executive director of Catholic Charities of Arkansas, challenges youth to serve in their communities during the Catholic Charities Summer Institute. Dwain Hebda photo
Sandy Decoursey gives attendees an overview of the history of St. Joseph Orphanage, now St. Joseph Center, starting with the chapel. Dwain Hebda photo
Sandy Decoursey gives attendees an overview of the history of St. Joseph Orphanage, now St. Joseph Center, starting with the chapel. Dwain Hebda photo
Jonathan Semmler of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village and Kayley Baltz of St. Paul Church in Pocahontas join their peers in leading the morning prayer July 10. Dwain Hebda photo
Jonathan Semmler of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village and Kayley Baltz of St. Paul Church in Pocahontas join their peers in leading the morning prayer July 10. Dwain Hebda photo
Joslyn Hebda (right) answers questions from attendees after her talk on the international refugee crisis. Hebda spent 10 weeks last summer with Caritas International in Amman, Jordan. Dwain Hebda photo
Joslyn Hebda (right) answers questions from attendees after her talk on the international refugee crisis. Hebda spent 10 weeks last summer with Caritas International in Amman, Jordan. Dwain Hebda photo
Daniah Al Nadawi of Little Rock shares her experiences adjusting to American life as an Iraqi refugee. Dwain Hebda photo
Daniah Al Nadawi of Little Rock shares her experiences adjusting to American life as an Iraqi refugee. Dwain Hebda photo
Carla Aguilar, relationship manager with Catholic Relief Services in San Antonio, delivers a talk on the plight of refugees in the United States. Dwain Hebda photo
Carla Aguilar, relationship manager with Catholic Relief Services in San Antonio, delivers a talk on the plight of refugees in the United States. Dwain Hebda photo
Evan Webb (left), Malcolm Mitchell and Chandler Fritsche brave the heat to help build a walkway at Our House homeless shelter. The youth spent two afternoons in service. Dwain Hebda photo
Evan Webb (left), Malcolm Mitchell and Chandler Fritsche brave the heat to help build a walkway at Our House homeless shelter. The youth spent two afternoons in service. Dwain Hebda photo
Juan Cruz from St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers digs in at St. Joseph Farm as part of an afternoon's service work. Dwain Hebda photo
Juan Cruz from St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers digs in at St. Joseph Farm as part of an afternoon's service work. Dwain Hebda photo
Ladyce Ritchie, RN, explains the ultrasound procedure she performs for women in crisis at Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center in Little Rock. Dwain Hebda photo
Ladyce Ritchie, RN, explains the ultrasound procedure she performs for women in crisis at Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center in Little Rock. Dwain Hebda photo

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Catholic Charities Summer Institute taught Catholic youth from all over Arkansas how they can make a difference in their community and the world.

About 60 high school students gathered at St. John Center in Little Rock July 7-11 to see what living in poverty was like. During their stay, the youth listened to different speakers talk about homelessness, refugees, immigration and human trafficking. They were also sent out into the community not only to do service but to see for themselves the issues they learned about.

The teens saw what it was like to be homeless in Little Rock, taking a tour with Aaron Redding, founder of the nonprofit organization The One.

Also, for two days of the program, youth volunteered at various service sites in the Little Rock area. They visited prisoners at the Juvenile Detention Center; helped with yardwork at Our House, a homeless shelter; stocked shelves with food at the Arkansas Foodbank Network; and prayed outside the abortion clinic with St. Joseph Helpers. They also went to a new site added to the program’s itinerary, St. Joseph Farm in North Little Rock, an educational center assisting with hunger relief in Arkansas and teaching Delta farmers new farming techniques.

Youth quickly realized their stereotypes of poverty were far from the reality.

“Coming into this, I was under the impression that homeless people were a little bit on the lazy side, but now I know that’s not the case,” Andrew Guresky of St. Mary Parish in Hot Springs said. “There are people in situations beyond their control.”

Megan Shaffer of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Hot Springs Village agreed, saying, “We’ve learned a lot about recognizing the homeless and making sure we treat them and everyone we come across more as people.”

In addition to seeing the issues firsthand, the youth learned ways they could help. One of the program’s speakers was the director of Catholic Charities, Patrick Gallaher, who explained how the teens could be involved. Gallaher encouraged the youth that even though they were young, they had ways to help and would have more as they got older.

“Your participation in delivering charitable services depends on your time, ability and inclinations,” Gallaher said. “Think in the long term. As you get older, you’re going to be able to do more things.”

Another speaker, Joslyn Hebda, a member of Our Lady of Holy Souls Parish in Little Rock and recent graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., told the teens how she had helped despite being young. Hebda worked with refugees in Amman, Jordan, for 10 weeks last summer while interning with Caritas Jordan, a Catholic non-governmental organization. She encouraged the youth to be informed and to find ways to help those in need.

“I know there are plenty of opportunities,” she said. “You don’t have to go across the ocean.”

Teens left the week feeling inspired to be more active.

“I want to be more active in my church,” Avanlea Furr of St. Agnes Parish in Mena said. “There’s more (problems) than just hungry people. Other people need help, and I can make sure to find as many ways as possible to help.”

Katy DeVino of Christ the King Parish in Little Rock, said, “We do have the means, even as kids, to help out in the community.”

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