Weston Gives Back: Weston student aims for 1,000 donations for local soup kitchen

Youmna Badlissi discovered her passion for helping others after she was chosen to represent Weston as an eighth-grade ambassador for Project 351, a statewide youth-led service project designed in 2011 by then-Gov. Deval Patrick to tap the unlimited potential and aspirations of young people.

“Before Project 351, I hadn’t done too much volunteering. I really didn’t understand how rewarding service was,” Youmna said.

Now, the 15-year-old Weston High School sophomore is hosting her second food drive in conjunction with the Weston Elementary schools’ Parent-Teacher Organization.

Her goal: To collect 1,000 needed items for the Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen in Waltham, run by the Middlesex Human Service Agency, Inc.

Youmna works closely with school administrators, and as a Project 351 alum, she benefits from the organization’s tools and guidance in running the food drive, she said.

To get the word out, Youmna is creating and posting fliers around the schools, posting on Instagram, sending email requests to parents, and making sure the drive is mentioned in the school newsletters. To gain even more notice, she has decorated donation boxes at Weston Middle and High schools.

When the food drive ends on Nov. 26, friends will help count the donated food items by quantity and weight. When everything is packed and sorted, the items will be collected by the Bristol Lodge.

Youmna credits the Weston community with making the food drive a success.

“I like to think I’m working with the whole community because in the end it’s about the people who donate. Without them I wouldn’t be able to accomplish any of this,” she said.

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Last year, the food drive took in more than 800 items, and she says it is on track to collect at least 1,000 items this year. All non-perishable items are welcome, Youmna said.

People can bring donations to the middle and high school lobbies whenever school is in session.

“Giving back doesn’t need to be a lot. A lot of people think they need to drop off a big bag of stuff or if they don’t have 10 cans to donate, they can’t donate at all. But everything makes a difference, so if you can contribute, we would love you to,” Youmna said.

Continuing to serve

Youmna has applied to be an alumna mentor with Project 351, and in January will lead a group of ambassadors and help them with their service projects.

Ever since that first day with Project 351 – Launch Day – when she headed into Boston for a day of service, she was hooked.

“I came back from that day and then from then on, I just said no matter what I ended up doing, I wanted to help people. And so, I just keep going back,” Youmna said, noting she has hosted yearly food and clothing drives.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick started Project 351 as a one-day celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to provide service opportunities for young people. The following year, the second group of ambassadors kicked off a yearlong leadership journey, marking the beginning of the independent, nonprofit youth leadership organization.

According to its website, “Project 351 seeks to develop the next generation of community-first service leaders through customized service learning, hands-on community-building, and values-based leadership training. Annually, Ambassadors from each of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts are selected by hometown educators for their exemplary ethic of service and the values of kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude.”

“It’s nice to work with so many young leaders who really want to help their communities. With the service projects, my biggest goal is just to try to make someone else’s day a little bit better and make somebody else a little bit happier,” Youmna said.

More about the Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen food drive

Food donations can be dropped off at Weston Middle School, 456 Wellesley St., and at Weston High School, 444 Wellesley St., until Nov. 26.

For information on Project 351, visit project351.org.