On October 13th, the AYLUS Morris Branch continued its commitment to community service through a meaningful collaboration with the local United Methodist Church, focusing on supporting underrepresented families in the local area. The Church distributor is asking community to support church needed families urgently, as the church food rack is empty, and they can not support more families at this time, especially given holiday and cold winter is coming. As part of this initiative, AYLUS volunteers organized a neighborhood food collection drive to gather canned and nonperishable food items to help families facing food insecurity. With strong support from local residents and volunteers, the team successfully collected 54 pounds of canned food, reflecting the community’s generosity and compassion.
Throughout the week, AYLUS members reached out to households across the neighborhood, raising awareness about the importance of helping those who struggle with basic needs. Volunteers carefully sorted, packed, and labeled the donated items to ensure efficient distribution and to make the process smooth for the Helping Hands staff. Each contribution—whether a single can of soup or a full bag of groceries—represented a shared belief that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact.
The collected food was delivered to the Church distributor at 3:00 PM on October 13th, where it was received with gratitude and immediately prepared for distribution to families in need. Through this experience, AYLUS volunteers learned not only the value of teamwork and responsibility but also the deep meaning of community engagement and empathy.
This event showcased how the AYLUS Morris Branch continues to empower youth leaders to make a difference through action and compassion. By working hand in hand with organizations like the United Methodist Church, the branch reinforces its mission to serve the community, uplift underrepresented families, and inspire others to contribute to a more caring and inclusive world.
Volunteers:
2 hours: Xiang Li, Kelly Nie, Han Li, Shirley Nie, William Liu
Advisors:
Xue Gu
Linna Wang