Warming kindness
By Steve Herring
Published in News on January 2, 2016 11:47 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Hania Kantzer, 12, sorts through the winter clothing to find a coat for a needy woman at the Community Soup Kitchen of Goldsboro Friday at lunch. Kantzer is a member of the Pathfinders Sentinels youth group from the Goldsboro Seventh Day Adventist Church that organized the giveaway.
Despite Friday morning's chilly weather Timothy Teachey had only a sports coat to wear as he made his way to the Community Supper Kitchen.
But before going in to get a hot meal, he was able to get a sweater to help keep him warm thanks to a winter clothing giveaway sponsored by the Pathfinders youth group of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
"I got a sweater," Teachey said. "I love them. They are great."
Teachey said the youths' actions had spurred him to do some service work this year.
The youths had set up outside the Community Soup Kitchen thinking that many of the people who eat there could also use warm clothing.
The items included long-sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, scarves and heavy coats.
Church member Raul Menjivar said the Pathfinders program is for youths 10 up to age 15.
"After they reach 16 they work as leadership in training," he said. "Then they train for community service and to lead young people. We do community service."
The youth also visit nursing centers where the children carry gifts for residents and to sing for them, he said.
"We work also with Parks and Recreation so we take kids to clean up Herman Park and the park down on Ash Street," Menjivar said. "We work with organization not locally but around the state. So that is part of the community service that we do."
The program focuses on youths' mental, physical and spiritual growth, he said.
"It is a lot colder than I expected," said Pathfinder Hania Kantzer, 12, as she helped people pick out items. "It is good we have a lot of people. I am glad that I can help them."
Menjivar's son, Raul, 16, a junior leader for the Pathfinders, was helping as well.
"We (junior leaders) are like the big brother or big sister," he said. "This is what we do and I enjoy it. It is nice to give back. I have learned what it means to lead.
"It means looking out for others more than yourself and carrying that on to others. That is what I think part of leadership is. That is what Pathfinders has taught me."
Along with teaching skills, he said Pathfinders has taught him how important it is to give to people, be it knowledge or clothes.
"It is always good to give," he said.