Oklahoma teens help other teens live on their own

Pericas said his decision to be in service to others came about largely because of his involvement in the Youth Leadership Exchange program. Pericas and 44 other high school students from across the metro area worked together to raise money for the construction of a new pantry for the Supporting Kids in Independent Living, or SKIL, program.

"It’s been a great learning experience,” Pericas said. "We all started out kind of unaware of what was around. This jump started us to learn about different groups of people and helped our awareness.”

The pantry, which is at Youth Services for Oklahoma County Inc., 201 NE 50, will now be stocked with food, school supplies, toiletries and other necessities that a disadvantaged teen might need.

Debra Forshee, president of Youth Services for Oklahoma County, said the pantry will serve as a free store for high school students who are living on their own. Last year, the SKIL program served about 120 students from the Oklahoma City area. Forshee said having the pantry around will help meet some of the teens’ basic needs.

"This is a combination of two programs working together, which I think is way strong and way cool,” Forshee said. "Not only is it wonderful, we’ve got kids empowered to raise other kids.”

Mary Walsh, program director of the Youth Leadership Exchange, couldn’t conceal her joy as she watched her students fill the pantry’s shelves.

Walsh’s students raised more than $17,000 for the construction of the pantry, which was a new fundraising record for her program. Youth Leadership Exchange, which is part of Leadership Oklahoma, takes 45 students each year from schools in and around Oklahoma City and teaches them about the world of nonprofit organizations.

Each year, Youth Leadership students chose a nonprofit organization to work with and figure out how they can help. They then go about raising funds for their project by meeting local business and civic leaders and asking for monetary assistance.

By going through the program, Walsh said students learn how to put on professional business presentations and how to conduct themselves in business situations.

They also get a close-up view of the needs of the underprivileged living in their area.

Harmoniey Cheadle, a 2009 graduate of Midwest City High School, said seeing her peers in need left her changed. Cheadle, like Pericas, got to know the SKIL program through Youth Leadership Exchange. She said she has a better appreciation for the blessings she has received. The aspiring attorney said she plans to spend her life giving back to others.

"It was a wonderful experience,” she said.

"Community service is the best way to reach out to the youth and your community.”

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