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Vavenby youth group helps Kamloops homeless

Young people travel to help those in need in the big city
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Young people from Vavenby Christian Church chat with a man named Mark as they tour the backstreets of Kamloops on Dec. 14. Their guide

Seven teenagers from the Vavenby Christian Church youth group, three adults from the church, plus two other drivers went into Kamloops on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

They left Vavenby around 9:30 a.m. and got home a 10 p.m. On arrival in Kamloops the teens were divided into groups and assigned an adult leader. They then walked around the poorer sections of the city, handing out socks, toques, gloves, scarves, and food. It was a learning session for the youth group to see how the homeless lived and to help them out a bit  this time of year.

Both Elnora Crier Jamersen and Brandon Toscano discovered that the homeless people lived near trashcans for food and shelter and that they begged for help. Both teenagers felt it was a good learning experience.

Crier thought that some of the homeless came from families already living on the streets and some by abusing drugs and alcohol. She would not want to live on the streets. Toscano said that the homeless were pretty lost people and that it wasn't right.

The youth group also went to a church that was having a dinner. The group played some music for the diners. The group visited the New Life Mission. It is a center that takes in men to help get them back on their feet. The mission provides free daily lunches and for those men showing good progress it will help them make the transition to a life that is drug and alcohol free. Men can live there for up to two years. They will get help with work skills, with their teeth, and with getting back into the work force. There is also a center for women.

Thank-you letters from school

The students of Vavenby Primary School read thank-you letters to the two groups that have helped the school with its After School Club.

The students first read their letters to Carol Schaffer, the representative of the Vavenby Trails Society, for providing needed funding.

Then letters were read to Nike Halberstadt, the representative of the Fine Things Thrift Store, for donating all the skates needed.

Teacher Julie Boyes gave a thank-you to both groups and then students served tea to everyone.

Boyes read a story that made her think of the two groups but before reading she gave an apology for possibly crying because that particular story often caused her to come to tears.

It was a very enjoyable afternoon and the students' letters were very sincere and read fluently.