Teens show selflessness, holiday spirit towards homeless Published Jan. 13, 2012 By Karen Abeyasekere 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Teens from the RAF Mildenhall Youth Center Keystone Club and Torch Club gave some homeless people a Christmas to remember when they made ornaments and delivered food to a shelter in Cambridge Dec. 21. They donated four boxes of canned food, blankets and clothing to Jimmy's Night Shelter, as well as boxes of dog and cat food. Also, jointly decorated by teenagers and preteens at the youth center, homemade ornaments were filled with inspirational quotes and candy, and taken to the East Anglian Children's Hospice in Cambridge. "We've had fantastic support from RAF Mildenhall over the years, and it's great that young people are carrying on that tradition," said Jane Heeney, Jimmy's Night Shelter communities and communications. "We're really grateful to them; it's brilliant that [the teenagers] took time out of their own celebrations to think of others who are without friends and family," she said. "It was all very festive, and was just like Santa's elves had appeared! They were all laden with goodies - both food and gifts - for our guests here." Jimmy's is a homeless shelter which hosts 24 men and women over 18, who stay temporarily until other accommodation is found for them. "As well as delivering the gifts to our guests, the [youths] stayed and talked to our staff here to find out more about the shelter. They didn't just turn up, hand over a gift and leave - they were really interested in what we do," said Heeney. Both leadership clubs (children of RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath members) decided they wanted to work together on the project, said to Kari Rosett, 100th Force Support Squadron Youth Center teen coordinator. "Our youth center has worked with Jimmy's Night Shelter in the past," she said. "Jimmy's covers a lot of the Cambridge area, providing hot meals, clothes, blankets and a place to sleep for those who need it." The youths said they were glad to have the opportunity to help out others less fortunate than themselves. "We set up boxes in the school-age rooms [at the youth center] and some of us from the Torch Club spoke to the children about what we were doing," said Natasha Johnson, 17, RAF Mildenhall Keystone Club vice president and RAF Lakenheath family member. "We also made signs and decorated boxes, and put them around the youth center to get all the children and parents involved. "The people at [the] night shelter were very happy, and thanked us," she added. "[A lady] from the children's hospice came and spoke to us, and said how kind our gesture was and how much the children would appreciate the handmade ornaments." Everyone from the teen and preteen leadership clubs to parents worked hard to make this happen and provide a happy Christmas for some of the homeless people in Cambridge. "[As a club] we'd like to do more work for the children's hospice, and do another clothes and blankets drive for the shelter," said Darryl Collins, 16, teen council representative and 100th Air Refueling Wing family member. "We hope that we can get more youths involved in helping their community and helping others less fortunate than us." Rosett said how proud she was of the children in both the Keystone and Torch Clubs, as well as all the staff, parents and other youths who helped out. "This is a great cause, and a very selfless act from the teens and preteens; they are the ones who persuaded parents and other youths involved to help out," Rosett said. "I think it's important to be able to help others who are less fortunate, especially at Christmas time, when there are some people who have nothing." Heeney agreed and expressed how grateful she was to the children and military community. "The best part for our guests here was not that they got a present, but that someone had actually thought about them," she said.