Teen takes on hunger with ice cream social in Cameron

Katie Maack, a senior at Apex High School, recognizes how lucky she has been to never go to bed hungry. Awakening to the suffering of hunger in children, she hosted a food drive with an old-fashioned ice cream social on Sept. 25. The event was held in historic Cameron at 449 Carthage Street to support the Vass Food Pantry.

Since the pandemic, families served by the Vass Food Pantry are on the increase, and more families with children continue to be served as they get back on their feet.

The Ice Cream Social offered an opportunity for teens from Raleigh to Raeford to gather for some ice cream and meet some peers who care about the community.

The Vass Food Pantry always accept canned foods, dried goods including rice, pasta, beans, and fruits, snacks for children, cereals, boxed milks, and boxed items that can be handed out to families in need. The Vass Food Pantry offers service on the second and fourth Tuesday starting at 11 a.m. of each month and serves more than 90 families.

Socially focused, Katie also realizes how hard it has been for young people to come back together in school after COVID and wants to create the opportunity for community building and connection.

Katie said, “As a high school student I know how hard it can be to reach out and meet new people so I thought what better way to do it then coming together for a good cause.”

Being of service to others helps bring connection to our communities and creates a means of connection around a solid purpose. This purpose is food; food to be enjoyed at a fun event with ice cream, and in exchange, bring some food for the Vass Food Pantry to give to those who need it now.

Supporting events creating connections for young people to come together decreases anxiety and connects to a purpose of helping others when they need it. The message of COVID, that we are all in this together, certainly landed on Katie Maack.

Courtesy photo/Contributed.

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