Second Place
Feature Story
Division 1
Giving thanks by giving back
Taylor Bundy
Grade 11
Freestyle
Intelligencer Journal
Adviser: Claudia Esbenshade
The characteristic aroma of a turkey dinner with all the trimmings pervaded the atmosphere as the typical hustle and bustle of meal preparation commenced. Adam Manacher, 17, enthusiastically embarked upon the project of cooking a full-course meal for his “family.”
The family was comprised of approximately 70 women and children, all residents of Lancaster’s Milagro House. The residents were served a Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday, Nov. 18.
Manacher, a Lancaster Country Day School senior, is a veteran volunteer; he has organized holiday meals last Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
“The first time (cooking the meal) was difficult…it’s always difficult with a new project,” said Manacher.“…but then I started getting volunteers and it wasn’t so hectic.”
Assistants included faculty, family and friends; many of the latter classmates of Manacher.
“It worked nicely last year. This is my second year volunteering,” said Erika Vernet, 18, also a senior at LCDS. “The most challenging part is the crunch at the end, when everything is being pulled together.”
Organization and resourcefulness were essential elements of the effort.
“We used grocery receipts that offered a free turkey for every $300 spent,” said Manacher. The local teen also worked with Sweet Street, a Reading-based bakery, and Great Harvest Bread Company in order to obtain desserts and dinner rolls. After a school-wide e-mail and newsletter to the elementary buildings, in poured the donations and canned goods.
“You wouldn’t expect teens to give up their weekends, but everyone was very eager to help out,” Manacher said. To him, his work, especially with the children of Milagro House, is “satisfying.”
“Last year, all the little kids were clinging to us and saying they wanted us to stay. Their affection and gratitude is worth the work,” he stated.
Manacher’s efforts are greeted by the community with much affection and gratitude as well. He was the recipient of Lancaster Country Day School’s 2006 Community Service Award, a Rutgers University Book Award and the Deborah A. Altman Community Service Award.
Although a senior project is included in the necessary LCDS graduation prerequisites, Manacher claimed to have “done it for the kids.”
“Recognition is nice, but I think it’s important to get out there and give back to the community.”
His graduation project is unique in its aim. While many teens have resorted to required science projects or term papers, Manacher chose the charitable road less traveled.
“My school has great rapport with Milagro House,” he explained. “When I came up with the idea, it seemed good (to Milagro House) because the women and children didn’t have a way to get a meal. Milagro House was on board from the start.”
According to Milagro House director Renee Valentine, LCDS also assists the organization with cleaning, tutoring, babysitting and “everything in between.”
“(The volunteers) talk to the women and kids,” said Valentine. “It’s a community experience. I don’t know what we’ll do when Adam graduates. His work with us is great.”
Manacher advises teens with an interest in volunteer work to simply contact an organization with which they would like to work. Especially during the holiday season, charitable affiliations are more than happy to welcome volunteers; determined and enthusiastic teens are an added bonus.
