As part of the EXCEL program being created at Foothills Good Shepherd Ministry Center the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Society will provide hot meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning April 2nd to at risk teens in the East County.
EXCEL is a faith based, not‐for‐profit youth resource center established for the purpose of empowering and equipping East County’s most vulnerable youth by providing support that will lead to stable employment and housing upon high school graduation.
Based on input from the leaders of youth services within East County who outlined their hope for
a youth resource center these key features were identified: 1) being able to fulfill the basic needs such as meal, shower, clean clothes and a friendly face to help youth with their next steps to stabilization. 2)
provide additional support to meet the goals associated with stable employment and housing.
There are approximately 60 couch surfing youth in East County between the ages of 16 and 18. These youth have little to no parental guidance and are relying on friends and extended family for shelter. These youth are at risk of developing drug addictions, dropping out of school and eventually living on the streets. The EXCEL Program wants to ensure that they are supporting youth that are desirous of success and have the drive for life improvement. They will rely on referrals by youth service partners to identify youth that are willing to work with mentors to identify and accomplish goals, such as improved literacy, financial education, high school graduation and job training.
SVDP members and volunteers will prepare the meals, serve them an provide a welcoming atmosphere to those teens participating in the program.
If you are interested in volunteering in the meal program you can contact SVDP at:
