Vera Court Neighborhood Center

Vera Court Girls Deliver Northside Meals 2/06/2007 By Sommer Mallow, Vera Court's Girl Neighborhood Power Coordinator

Vera Court Girl Neighborhood Power has delivered over 1,000 meals to over 20 different Northeast side residents since they began volunteering with Independent Living Inc. Meals on Wheels in 2006. The weekly route has provided a remarkable opportunity for the girls to develop a positive sense of self as well as a positive reputation in their community. It has also allowed girls to gain wonderful self-confidence by developing trusting relationships with the adults in their neighborhood to whom they deliver meals.

Recently, one of the girls was especially touched by delivering to a recipient that was unable to walk. Through her helpfulness, she was able to help open the meal, find eating utensils, and pour a glass of ice water. As words of heartfelt thanks were spoken, the sense of belonging to the greater good was seen through the gigantic, happy smiles of both the girl and the meal recipient.

The feeling of belonging to the greater good seems to be extending throughout the Vera Court Neighborhood Center community through conversations of recognition and inspiration. Younger youth are voicing their interest in Meals on Wheels and learning from the girls what community service is. In 2006 the girls received the President's Volunteer Service Award at the Martin Luther King Day Celebration and are currently discussing ways to get their message out of how easy it is to help others through a little time and a lot of compassion for those that need it most.