Anyone passing by the Power of People Leadership Institute Saturday afternoon might have wondered if there was a party going on.
“It’s amazing,” recalled Dr. Verna Price. “We’re screaming and yelling and having a good time.”
There wasn’t a holiday celebration taking place, but an all-hands-on-deck work session. In assembly-line fashion, volunteers were packing gifts for 675 students taking part in the Institute’s key programs, Girls Taking Action and Boys of Hope. Even Price’s 87-year-old mother was helping, adding a greeting card to each gift bag.
“We teach our students they are important and loveable, and we teach them that they’re valuable,” said Price, referring to the weekly programs which serve Twin Cities students in grades 6-12. “It’s one thing to have words. It’s another thing to have a gift in your hand come the Christmas and holiday season.”
Price decided to organize the gift drive after realizing some of the young people in her programs might not be receiving gifts from anyone else.
“That has been my experience,” said Price. “Many of these young people are people the schools have given up on, sometimes their parents have given up on ‘em, and so they have a lot going on.”
A couple dozen volunteers turned out for the gift-packing event. They stuffed each large gift bag with toys, games, art supplies and plenty of stocking-stuffer items.
”Everytime we finish a school, y’know, Robbinsdale Middle: 50 students,” recalled Price. “All the volunteers go, ‘Woo-hoo!’ It was amazing.”
The packing work was fun, admittedly easier than the “gritty community work”--the mentoring and leadership training--that takes place each week during and after school at the 25 schools where the Girls Taking Action and Boys of Hope programs are offered.
“It is hands-on, like we are in the lives, in the homes of our young people,” said Price, who co-founded the Power of People Leadership Institute in 2007 with her husband, Brother Shane Price.”We are determined to let them know that they are valuable, important, lovable, and powerful people in this word, and we are on their side.”
Price says there’s an urgent need for mentoring of young people. In fact, many of the schools which offer Girls Taking Action and Boys of Hope have waiting lists for kids to be involved.
“Our young people are yearning for people to say something good to them, for someone to tell them, ‘It’s gonna be okay,’” said Price.
Mentors will surprise students with their holiday gift bags throughout the week. Board members and lead mentors supplied many of the presents. Price is also grateful to corporate partners who stepped up, including Marsden, 3M, Blue Cross Blue Shield, General Mills, Aveda and Estee Lauder.
“Every student, all 675 of them, will receive a beautiful gift bag loaded with toys and snacks and personal items,” said Price. “They will also have a holiday card from us saying we care and we are here for you.”
Anyone interested in supporting Girls Taking Action or Boys of Hope by donating or mentoring can learn more at https://www.popinstitute.org.