Diamond Lake Yacht Club youth organize food drive

Published 8:05 am Thursday, August 4, 2016

More than 20 middle and high school members of the Diamond Lake Yacht Club ran a drive to collect food, personal care items and school supplies for Helping Hands of Cass County from July 18 through July 31.

The group reached out to members of the community by putting flyers in mailboxes, sending email blasts, displaying signs and posting notices on Facebook.

Those wanting to donate could drop items off at the yacht club or leave them outside their house during a designated time period for pick up by the teenagers.

On Monday, the group organized and delivered the collected items and then assisted in stocking the shelves at Helping Hands.

The teens exceeded their goals by collecting 48 backpacks and the necessary supplies to fill the majority, if not all of them. In addition, they received hundreds of food/personal care items and very generous cash donations by individuals and businesses/groups (Diamond Lake Marina, Diamond Lake Golf Course and the American Legion Post 335.)

Many participants agreed they had fun working with their friends while helping people in the community.

“Thank you so much to this amazing group of young people and to all of those people who supported them with their generosity,” said Duncan Usher, a participant in the food drive.