Two days. Over 50 Anna’s Kindness volunteers.
Our largest volunteer event of the school year helped provide a wonderful Thanksgiving meal to a couple hundred of the area’s homeless and less fortunate.
Forsythe, Tappan, Clague and Slauson middle school volunteers brought their parents and their compassion to Ann Arbor’s Vineyard Church on Wednesday and Thursday, where they helped prepare and serve turkey dinners to those in need from throughout the county.
On Wednesday, our volunteers arrived to help the church set up for their annual holiday event.
Tappan sixth graders Sophia Mackler and Danika Stone and their moms arrived first and began folding, sorting and labeling the donated clothes that would be handed out to the homeless during Thursday’s dinner. They were relieved at 6 p.m. by Forsythe 7th grader Lucy Shafer, Slauson 7th grader Sara Grover and their moms.
As those 6 p.m. volunteers arrived, Tappan sixth grader Miranda Castillo and her mother were there to greet and direct them (or to receive donated foods and desserts).
Stacy Colias and her Forsythe seventh grade son, Nico, helped coordinate the volunteers … particularly those prepping food including Clague 8th grader Elizabeth Thompson and her mother, and Tappan 8th grader Selvi Aquiles-Sanchez and her mom.
Christine Hale and her Forsythe eighth grader Heather set up the coffee station, while Clague sixth grader Luciana Vanini and her mother set up and decorated the drinks and dessert tables.
Tappan eighth grader Hans Rober and his father, and Clague 6th grader Colin Pifer and his mom rolled out, set up, and then covered the dining room tables.
On Thursday, the guests began arriving at 11 a.m. and Anna’s Kindness volunteers were ready to serve.
Pioneer High School students Mia and Carina Sanborn helped establish the coat check as guests arrived, while their mom Cathy, assisted volunteers and answered questions.
Forsythe 6th grade classmates Sophia McClatchey and Kate Chiang handed out silverware and plates to the guests, who then were served turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls by Forsythe 8th grader Celia Begosso, Slauson 7th grader Max Baker and their moms. And while Sophia was passing out cutlery her father manned the clothing storage room for the guests.
Mia Sanborn and Forsythe sixth grader Cecilia Miller helped provide coffee, tea, hot cider and hot chocolate, while Slauson 7th graders Saabirah and Samir Simuenyi and their mom, along with Clague 6th grader Aakash Gopal. Aakash and her mom later went into the kitchen to help prep food for the servers.
Clague seventh grader Taylor King and her mom, along with Skyline High School freshman Samantha Chiang passed out delicious slices of pie for dessert. Samantha’s mom and dad helped nearby in the kitchen.
Clague 7th grader Manisha Datar, Slauson 7th grader Ana Eisele and their moms kept the dining tables and floors clean and assisted guests with refills on their beverages.
Around the corner, Skyline sophomore Karina Roberts (one of Anna’s close middle school friends), her Forsythe sixth grade brother Daniel and their parents did a terrific job of assisting guests as they shopped the boutique for warm winter items.
It was a tremendous group effort, bringing together middle school students from across Ann Arbor to serve others who were less fortunate. Thanks to Anna’s Kindness parents Stacy Colias, Christine Hale, and Cathy Sanborn for helping coordinate the volunteers. And a very special thank you to Tanya, Sean, Chris and Vineyard Church for allowing us to help with Vineyard’s annual Thanksgiving dinner.
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