Leadership Lake County Students Fighting Poverty

Leadership Lake County is designed to help the students of today become the leaders of tomorrow.

However, when it comes to addressing poverty in Lake County, these students aren't waiting until tomorrow to take the lead.

The Junior Leadership Program class of 2013 -- comprised of 33 high school juniors from around the region -- has formed Growing Awareness of Poverty (G.A.P.) to help those who need it the most.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, G.A.P. is running a collection drive in the parking lot of Crossroads Early Childhood Services (1083 Mentor Avenue).

The students will be collecting paper towels, toilet paper and other hygiene products (taxable goods) that cannot be purchased with food stamps but are essential to daily living.

At the end of the event, donations will be packaged and donated across Lake County to Project Hope in Painesville, Body of Christ Community Church in Willoughby and Price of Peace in Mentor.

These organizations have programs in place to distribute the items to those most in need.

These students have already run collection drives at their respective schools.

One in 12 people in Lake County are living in poverty, said Elizabeth Petro, the Youth Program Manager for Leadership Lake County

“It has been amazing to see how the high school students have wrapped their arms around the very important issue of poverty of which they had no idea was occurring right here in their own county,” Petro said.

The collection date of April 27 was chosen by the students to coincide with service projects across the world conducted that same day, as it is Global Youth Service Day.

Young people will be serving communities through numerous acts of kindness, taking action and creating real change.    

If you are not able to attend the Saturday but would like to donate items, please call the Leadership Lake County office at 440-352-7520.

If you would like more information on the Junior Leadership Program, visit www.leadershiplakecounty.org.