Youth Program
Dwelling House of Hope would like express our gratitude to The Cummings Foundation for sponsoring our Youth Program.
The Dwelling House of Hope youth program operates various character building and community-based activities. These programs include feeding the homeless, which is an initiative to help our youth gain personal and philanthropic skills through the preparation of packaged meals. They also have the chance to complete community outreach by going to the local shelters in our community and distributing bags to those in need. By interacting with people from different backgrounds and circumstances, our youth volunteers gain a greater understanding of the challenges that others face and they learn to appreciate the diversity and complexity of the world around them. This experience helps them to become more tolerant and open-minded, which are important qualities for personal growth and development.
Our youth also assists in preparing hygiene bags and food boxes for distribution during the pantry's operational hours. This allows them to network with other youth with the same vision as them and helps them create lasting friendships and relationships with each other and all other pantry volunteers. The benefits of these programs have been significant.
Not only have they helped to alleviate hunger and empower youths, but they have also helped to build stronger ties between the food pantry and the community it serves, increasing support for the organization and its mission. This has made a lot of impact on the youth, spending their time doing something very productive than spending time on other activities that do not empower them.
During this period, we have seen a lot of change with the youth as they learn to give back to those who are in their community. This grant has made a lot of impact to many youths we have been working with.
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Community Service Program
We encourage youth to volunteer and engage in community-based projects, fostering a sense of civic responsibility and empathy towards others.
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Educational Program
This program focuses on academic enrichment, tutoring, and skill-building activities to support learning outside of the traditional classroom setting.
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Diversity Program
By promoting cultural awareness, encouraging acceptance and understanding of different backgrounds and perspectives we celebrate everyone’s differences and uniqueness to empower young people.
![Youth group working on a reporting project.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6594612001617048e881058b/fbd68801-6d20-413b-8f40-ba401b431464/3.jpeg)
Youth group working on a reporting project.
![Youth group celebrating the growth of our programs thanks to The Cummins Foundation.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6594612001617048e881058b/0cc32d32-062f-48b3-8237-135615114f13/6.jpeg)
Youth group celebrating the growth of our programs thanks to The Cummins Foundation.
![UMASS students preparing sandwiches to feed the homeless.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6594612001617048e881058b/465cf513-0434-4468-bb34-9644edc21333/WhatsApp+Image+2024-03-26+at+1.27.07+PM+%281%29.jpeg)
UMASS students preparing sandwiches to feed the homeless.
![Youth group after a day of community service.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6594612001617048e881058b/4b9f8d4d-96c6-447c-bef7-733910141acf/7.jpg)
Youth group after a day of community service.
![Youth program with a completed assignment from the Educational Program.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6594612001617048e881058b/b4d06d9c-446c-4de7-9c61-9aee43164e5c/2.jpg)
Youth program with a completed assignment from the Educational Program.
![UMASS Students gearing up for sandwiches distribution to the homeless.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6594612001617048e881058b/b6ff62a1-a6b1-4537-b3fb-8852df853b43/UMAS+KIDS.jpeg)
UMASS Students gearing up for sandwiches distribution to the homeless.
![Youth program completing care packages to the homeless.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6594612001617048e881058b/87fc5254-2a5b-46e8-8f4c-52681e078a1f/IMG_8552+%284%29.jpeg)
Youth program completing care packages to the homeless.
![Youth program preparing sandwiches for the homeless.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6594612001617048e881058b/0e63fe15-11ba-4544-8c6b-94572621cbaa/IMG_8869.jpeg)
Youth program preparing sandwiches for the homeless.
![Youth program after another successful community service day.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6594612001617048e881058b/c398d411-21c6-4730-b105-bc368fb273ff/8.jpeg)
Youth program after another successful community service day.
You can make a difference
“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)