Ogden youth group gives thanks through service

Intermountain Catholic

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Sarah Gribble spreads butter on the bread she hands out to people in need on Thanksgiving Day at the Marshall White Center. Gribble and her family are members of Saint Mary Parish in Ogden and spend their holiday serving others. ?It makes me be thankful for what I have,? said Gribble. IC photo by Priscilla Cabral

OGDEN — This year, Dawn, Mike, Sarah, and Karli Gribble cooked two turkeys for Thanksgiving Day. But they did not get to even try them. Instead, they shared the turkeys with people in need on Thanksgiving morning.

"It’s teaching my daughters that the value of giving is more important than receiving," said Dawn.

This is not a lesson limited to her daughters. The Gribbles, along with the Saint Mary Parish youth group in Ogden, have been, for years, carrying plates for, serving food to, and mingling with people in need every Thanksgiving Day at the Marshall White Center, in Ogden.

"At first, they would get really intimidated, but now they have great joy in helping them out," said Lisa Mendez, youth group director.

The youth group joined forces with Project Success three years ago to make Thanksgiving Day a happy celebration for the hundreds of people who make a line for a warm, traditional meal.

Ever since, "We’re like a family," said Mendez about the youth group’s relationship with Project Success.

The youth group is made up of kids from seventh to 12th grade. Some of them spent part of their holiday at the Marshall Center to accumulate community service hours required for their Confirmation, and others were volunteering to comply with their school requirements, but they all shared one lofty motivation: to give thanks.

"I’m doing this because it means something to them. We take food for granted and these people don’t have food," said Nelida Navarro, Saint Joseph High School student.

"It makes me be thankful for what I have. I enjoy talking to them. They’re the nicest people. They don’t feel bad about each other or themselves. They’re happy and positive," said Sarah Gribble.

"My favorite part is to see their smiles when they get the food," said Abby Lathem, a seventh grade student at Rocky Mountain Junior High.

"The fact that I can give them something makes me feel good inside," said Lathem, for whom this is also an opportunity to bond with her mother.

"The number of volunteers has grown every year," said Mendez.

"They will bring their friends, brothers, and sisters… I’ve had calls from people wanting their kids to help someone who doesn’t have what they have. It kind of gives them a reality check," she said.

"When I ask for help, they get in on it. They don’t hesitate," said Mendez about her youth group.

"I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of students," she said.