Youth Service Opportunities

 

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“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

                                                                                                                        - Matthew 25:40

At Saint Therese of Carmel we have teens who participate in volunteer activities that offer young people, 13-18 years old, an opportunity to live out their faith more fully through hands-on-service. Teen Korps offers a structure through which teens can create volunteer projects and fundraisers that are interesting to them, allows them to track service hours to help meet service requirements, and empowers them to make an impact on the lives of people in a direct way. We are about to begin our 7th year of Teen Service to the community. We invite all Teens of our Parish to join us in living out our faith more fully and actively. 

Our mission is to instill in America's youth the spirit of giving while providing valuable education inprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Head Start Preschools, children's hospitals, homeless shelters, senior centers, animal shelters and environmental agencies.  The opporunities teach us leadership and responsibility. Each event begins with a moment to reflect on the purpose of the event: our Christian call to serve the least of these in our midst. This is the basis of St. Therese of Carmel’s community service. 

 

For more information, please contact Nina Baumgardner at nbaumgardner@sttheresecarmel.org.

History of Teens in Action

Before St. Therese of Carmel adopted Teen Korps, they had a group called Teens in Action. This group was started in 2004 to help encourage teens to live out their faith more fully and actively. This teen group supports many organizations throughout the year: St. Vincent De Paul, San Diego Food Bank, and Military Families at Camp Pendleton.  One main event each year that supports these organizations monetarily is through the largest youth-led weekend “Souper Bowl of Caring” in which 32 teens spent 64 volunteer hours to help raise awareness of those who are hungry and hurting in our communities.  Asking for donations from Parishioners, over $1500 was raised and equally distributed to St. Vincent de Paul, San Diego Food Bank and to fill the cupboards of the Military Families food supply at Camp Pendleton.  The Teens in Action also assisted the needs of the Knights of Columbus with their main charity events whether selling donuts or Tootsie Rolls or volunteering a total of 50 hours to clear the Sister’s of Mercy cemetery.  30 teens assisted over 68 hours to the youth at Notre Dame Academy after two of their Musicals with a craft and game fair, and 39 Teens volunteered a whopping 156 hours running Carnival Games for  the Parish Oktoberfest festival.