Mary Leigh Porter and Daniel Bowman solicit donations in their neighborhood for their food drive.

On a cool autumn day Mary Leigh Hatcher and Taylor Baird, two tenth graders, set out down the street to deliver bright green flyers to their neighbors. Both teens are part of an effort initiated by some local homeschooled teens to spread the word about hunger in South Carolina, solicit donations of food, and eventually contribute 2,000 bags of food to Harvest Hope Food Bank.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Carolina has the second highest hunger population in the country. The annual demand for food has increased by 40% in the 20- county area served by Harvest Hope. This year the food bank projects a need of over 33.6 million pounds of food.

Struck by these and more statistics, Hatcher, a 16- year- old student, wanted to do something. Hatcher was also inspired by a book read for a school assignment:

Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations,

 

 

 

Luke Porter solicits donations for the teen food drive from Mr. Mike Sweatt.

by Alex and Brett Harris. Hatcher said, "The book talks about how much difference an ordinary teenager can make in the world. It really gave me a passion to make a difference and bring change from my generation."

The result was the food drive, a teen- run service project sponsored by Forest Acres Christian Educators (FACE) in association with Harvest Hope Food Bank.

Requesting the help of three other homeschooled teenage friends — Andrea Huff, Daniel Bowman, and Will Kent — Hatcher formed a student committee: "We spoke about the drive at our support group meetings, sent out information through our e- mail loop, talked to people at our churches, and distributed flyers door to door in many different neighborhoods." Bowman and Kent also solicited several grocery stores for food donations and grocery bags.

Luke, John Mark, Sarah, and Grace Porter ask for donations for their food drive from Mrs. Burhger in Forest Acres.

About 25 families have volunteered to help with the drive. Kids of all ages are distributing flyers about the drive to their neighbors, friends, and other associations. Later, they will pick up the donations and take them to three central locations in Columbia, West Columbia, and Lexington where Harvest Hope plans to pick up the goods on December 13.

Mrs. Lori Hatcher, Mary Leigh's mother, commented on the teens' learning experience, "They are learning that young people can do big, hard things and do them well, that they don't have to be limited by their age, and that when they see a need, they have the power to jump in and help meet it."

Daniel Bowman, one of the teen leaders, concurred: "Even though something seems hard, if people are willing to help, [teens] can really do anything."

Anyone wanting to help with the drive may call 782-9190 to arrange for a pick up, drop donations off at Harvest Hope Food Bank at 2220 Shop Road in Columbia, or donate online at www.harvesthope.org.