MYCP - Monroe Youth Challenge Program

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CSHS Teen Helps Needy with 100 Loads of Laundry, Trip to Homestead

ISLAMORADA, Fla. (348 words) – “Turning left on Lucy Street” sounds like a movie title but for one Coral Shores Student it opened her heart to work hard and share. As president of the International Club at Coral Shores Senior Saida Albanes collected 27 huge trash bags of donated clothes at school for a project that went awry. The clothes were rain damaged and their original plan to send them to Nicaragua fell through. Monroe Youth Challenge Program’s District Prevention Coordinator heard about the dilemma and connected Albanes with Keys Share, a new grassroots charitable organization in the Upper Keys started about a year ago.

Photo Credit: MYCP
Albanes and Koch assist at a recent Keys Share distribution. Photo Credit: Keys Share

With the support of teacher Cheryl Cooke Albanes took days to wash, dry, and fold about 100 loads of laundry. Then Albanes and friend Senior Kristina Koch took the trip to Homestead with Keys Share volunteers to help deliver the clothes to more than 84 families in need who came for the distribution that week. Sutter said, “Saida is a perfect “Be the Change” example. She noticed a need, chose to do something and acted in kindness. The Keys Share folks were so impressed with Saida and her project.”

Keys Share, run by Bob and Sue Johnson of Islamorada, makes weekly trips to Homestead, turning left on Lucy Street, to share the good fortune and overabundance of material things from donors in the Upper Keys.

The Keys Share newsletter states, “April was another outstanding month for Keys Share, as we made six deliveries, carrying about 2,500 items of clothing and other household items, about the same as last month. Our contact list is now at 125, counting all those who have contributed goods and services.” Bob Johnson writes, “I’m still a little awed by the level of caring, sharing and giving, from so few to so many. Thank you so much.”

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information contact Sutter at (305) 852-1664. For more information about Keys Share call Johnson at (305) 664-8508 or email KeysShare@bellsouth.net.