The year is coming to a close, and most would say now is an important time to check on those who need it most. The freshmen class in our Vohokase Cultural Leadership Program kicked off the holiday season by doing just that! In partnership with Young Black Professionals of Dayton (YBP), La’Shawn Thomas, Jay’Qwuan Scates, and Marius French delivered frozen meals to those in need on the day before Thanksgiving.
The three young men of Dayton, Ohio, are involved in our ten-day outdoor leadership program referred to as Camp Vohokase, along with ten others from other parts of the country. Besides attending the summer camp, they also keep in contact with our Camp Vohokase Director with weekly check-ins and are required to attend Hometown Visits each quarter. The visits ensure they maintain connections, good habits, and experience ways they can give back to their communities throughout the year.
In addition to delivering delicious meals to families, the young men also gave each family a Christmas tree, thanks to the Light Foundation’s partnership with Lowes! The families were aware they would receive a meal, but it was a bonus when they received an additional holiday gift! We loved seeing the joy on their faces.
During this winter hometown visit, each young man walked away from their volunteer experience feeling a healthy boost of self-confidence and satisfaction. Doing good for others and their community provided a natural sense of accomplishment, too. It would not have been possible without YBP welcoming us to join them in their mission of empowering, informing, and nurturing the community through service and philanthropy.
The Light Foundation often partners with other nonprofits to help make a bigger impact and to instill community service into the young men who enroll in Camp Vohokase. It is one of the most important components of leadership, which is what we teach through our various programs, and especially this four-year program!
Stay tuned as the new year brings more Hometown Visits for the Light Foundation’s Vohokase Cultural Leadership Program. The first stop is with the Seniors of the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Indian Township, Maine. The young men of Maine complete their final six months in the program before they graduate at Chenoweth Trails in Ohio this upcoming June!
