Canyon Vista PALS Fight Hunger in O.C.

To Alex Triestman, 10, the thought of anyone, especially someone his own age, going without food is unacceptable.

Triestman has visited South County Outreach several times and has seen its shelves completely bare. Taking the initiative himself, he applied for a $500 Youth Service grant—money that could be used to help the hungry.

He was approved.

“We live in a very fortunate area and want to help kids who are not so fortunate. We have seen the empty shelves of macaroni and cheese at the South County Outreach warehouse and we cannot imagine not being able to have our favorite food. We have already set up the dates with South County Outreach, but would like to provide more food than ever to get them through their tough months in the summer. We are told in the summer that they are short food and kids are home and hungry,” Triestman wrote in his grant proposal.

As part of the Canyon Vista Elementary Peer Assisted Leaders program, Triestman and his mother Joanie Triestman, PAL parent advisor, are working with 75 students to raise money and collect food during the Crocs Against Hunger Food Drive.

PALS students met with Andi Doddridge, a South County Outreach volunteer coordinator, on Friday to discuss their April 23- 27 food drive. Eight bins will be placed around the campus to encourage students, teachers and parents to donate cereal, pasta, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, chili and other canned goods.

“A little bit goes a long way for us,” Doddridge said. “I’m so proud of you all. I can’t believe you are giving up your recess. We really appreciate it.”

Doddridge explained to the students that just $6.72 is enough to pay for the meals of a family of four for five days.

“You guys are the leaders here. Spread the word,” Joanie said.

Students, who gave up their recess to join the discussion, had many questions.

“Is there a maximum amount of money we can bring?”

“Can I bring $20 from my allowance?”

“Are there certain foods we can’t bring? What if someone is allergic?”

“How much do they get for meals?”

In answering the final question, Doddridge said each family receives 50 lbs. of food when they come to the center.

The $500 grant will be used to help purchase gift cards in $10 for clients of the South County Outreach so they can buy medical supplies, like bandages, pain reliever, etc. A plague will also be purchased to record how much food is donated every year from Canyon Vista.

A bake sale is scheduled for April 26. All money raised during the Crocs Against Hunger Food Drive will benefit South County Outreach, who will purchase food for families in need and small plastic “food banks” that will be placed around the community to collect money.

In his proposal, Alex pledge to give his allowance and hopes his fellow students will do the same.

“I am passionate about this issue since I have been 3 when my mom took me to the South County Outreach. I saw children and parents standing in line to get food. The manager of the warehouse let me see the shelves, which were almost empty. I asked him what they were going to do for all those people and he said some of them would not get food. Since I was about 5, I have given one third of my allowance to the food bank and have participated in food drives in my community. I think it is very important for students to run their own food drive and understand that there are kids who are our age who are hungry. I saw empty shelves and know that some kids won't get food. I will do what I can to reduce the amount of kids who are hungry and help the South County Outreach. They are a great organization and help a lot of families.” —Excerpt from Alex’s grant proposal.