Youth Ambassadors of Where Love Grows Give Back to their Community by Donating Dozens of School Supplies to Students
Sarina Fazan is at Potter Elementary School with the young men who were featured on her “On The Record With Sarina Fazan” Podcast. Teenagers Adam Constable, Daniel Fuentes, Tyler Girsch, Cole Mangan, and Carter Dill, youth ambassadors of the Where Love Grows nonprofit, are holding an event where they are taking action by raising money for school supplies.
Meredith Anzalone, the community school coordinator at Potter Elementary describes how the nonprofit Where Loves Grows meshes with the event they are holding.
““Where Love Grows is close to my heart because it is my family that does it, and we started
initially with the Boys and Girls Club doing family night dinners,” says Meredith.”
They then transitioned from doing family dinners at the Boys and Girls Club to holding family dinners at school-wide events.
“Something amazing that the founder of Where Love Grows is committed to is having a hot meal for all of our families at every school-wide event,” she says.
Meredith continues, “We went through 300 meals tonight from PDQ that was donated through Where Love Grows which is amazing.”
The youth ambassadors who are leading this event chose Potter Elementary as part of their service-learning project because they knew that it was a school in need.
“We were so lucky that they choose us,” Meredith says happily.
The youth ambassadors put together an Amazon Wish List by graciously meeting with staff members and students of Potter Elementary School to figure out what materials they needed for the school year.
“They wrote letters to their schools, their churches, all the things that they belong to in their community, and they’ve purchased over $8,000 worth of applies for our students which is like amazing. I couldn’t make this up if I tried,” Meredith says amazed.
At the event, Potter Elementary School students are receiving a full bag of supplies courtesy of the youth ambassadors of Where Love Grows.
“It’s just so nice seeing these student leaders willing to give back in the community to people that are less fortunate than them,” she says.
The youth ambassadors who made this event happen are each at a station giving back to their community.
“It’s been really impactful as you see, all these kids getting their stuff and the look it puts on their face,” says 16-year-old Cole Mangan, who goes to Jesuit High School and is a youth ambassador who was featured on Sarina’s podcast.
He continues, “It really makes your heart feels good; that’s how I describe it.”
Youth ambassador Adam Custable, a 16-year-old attending Henry B. Plant High School, feels proud to see that everyone came out to support what he and the other ambassadors have done for their community.
“It is kids helping kids,” says Sarina who is curious to know about what it feels like to have such a great impact on the community.
“It feels great just great,” Adam says speechlessly.
Another youth ambassador, Carter Dill, a 16-year-old attending Jesuit High School and the son of Laura Dill, feels great to be giving back.
“In middle school, we cut our hair, we would shave our hair for pediatric cancer and that was just kind of a start to everything, so this is just adding on to everything I’ve done and it feels awesome,” he says.
Sarina notes that she has a soft spot in her heart for Carter because of the story he shared when he had shaved his head for pediatric cancer. She shared this story of giving in a local news report when she worked as an anchor in Tampa. Carter says he just wants to give back.
“I’m just trying to give an example to everyone else that this is the right thing to do and that everyone should be able to do things like this without trying to selfishly make a name for themselves,” says Carter.
Youth ambassador Daniel Fuentes, who is a 16-year-old student attending Jesuit High School, is humbled by the amount of money they were all able to raise.
“I thought 1,000 dollars at most. It’s kind of crazy how much we got, how much support there was, and I’m grateful for everyone that donated,” says Daniel.
Tyler Girsch, a 16-year-old attending Henry B. Plant High School and another youth ambassador who was featured on Sarina’s podcast, describes the role of the stations where the ambassadors and staff are all positioned.
“They are all coming in and we’re giving them supplies that they may not have been able to afford themselves because of COVID and everything that happened, it has made everything harder for them,” says Tyler.
They set up the stations to make it safe for those in need to receive supplies for the start of the new school year.
“It’s fun to look back and to be like me yeah we did this for people who really needed it,” he says.
Sarina is so proud to call them the future leaders of America.
Sarina’s daughter Sammie and Mia Dill, Carter’s sister, also attended the event.
“I think they are doing a great thing for this school. So I feel inspired by what they are doing as teenage boys,” says Mia.
“I wish I could give you a hug,” Sarina says fondly.
Sarina is excited to be sharing this incredible event, which highlights the very best of Tampa Bay.
If you’d like to donate supplies, here is Where Love Grows’ Amazon Wishlist: Here
Learn more about Where Love Grows: www.WhereLoveGrows.org