Youth Leadership Helping Community

The organization, made up of 11th-grade students, will be at the Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., collecting nonperishable foods to take to Golden Harvest Food Bank. The students, who work with Augusta political and community leaders to motivate teens to volunteer in their communities, created the drive to offer assistance and build leadership skills.

Project Manager Lyn Cobb said the food drive is designed to give group members a realistic look at the needs of their neighborhoods.

“It’s an important opportunity for our members to serve on their own level. These events get their boots (on) the ground, helping them build skills like collaboration and teamwork,” Cobb said. “They’ll be able to directly contribute to their surrounding world and learn how to be leaders while doing it.”

Sixteen year-old member EmmaKate Few said she hoped the food drive will allow “people of all age groups” to lend a helping hand to the hungry in Richmond County.

“We’ve been discussing our class community service project since August … at first, we wanted to do a color run-type event, but after meeting with Golden Harvest, we felt this food drive would be a much better way to make a difference,” EmmaKate said. “I’m excited, and I can’t wait to see how many people come out to donate.”