Volunteering can make a huge difference in even the smallest of communities. This encouraging statement rang true recently when Spring Hill’s Letty Lockhart of the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, age 7, donated 170 pounds of food and 62 sandwiches to People Helping People (PHP) in Hernando County. PHP is an interfaith community organization established to provide food, clothing, and other basic necessities to individuals in need.
Brittany Lockhart, Letty’s mom, stated her daughter has a heart for helping. “We sometimes drive by a homeless person on the street holding up a sign asking for help,” said Brittany Lockhart. “She’ll ask why he’s there. She’s concerned.”
In May, proud mother Brittany wrote to People Helping People explaining her daughter’s strong desire to help homeless people and her plan of action to provide some needed assistance. Letty aimed to prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and accompanied by other snacks to distribute among homeless people living in the woods. “I made peanut butter and jelly, because it’s what I like to eat,” Letty revealed.
When this Westside Elementary student set her mind and heart to something, her hands soon followed. She prepared 62 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the aid of 170 pounds of food donated by family members and friends. These sandwiches were handed out this summer at homeless campsites around the county.
And for Letty, the motivation was simple. “When I see people with no food,” she said. “It makes me sad.” A sixth generation Girl Scout, Letty is a Juliet scout–one who has no home troop and who is responsible for covering all expenses for her own projects.
Previously, she has amassed collections of toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other needed toiletries for the homeless. “But she wanted to do more,” said Brittany Lockhart.
In the interest of Letty’s safety, People Helping People handled distribution of the sandwiches to homeless encampments throughout Hernando County. Yet she did get the opportunity to meet some of the people she helped through PHP. “We were excited to meet,” she said. “They said thank you.”
She’s just getting started too! “I plan to collect food and supplies for the pets of homeless people and I want to give the homeless gifts at Christmas,” said Letty.
Letty encourages other kids to serve the community through Scouting. “Come join our family of helping and caring,” she said. Executive Director of People Helping People in Hernando County, Inc. Kendra Kenney is deeply appreciative of Letty’s support. “We love and value all of our volunteers. After all, it is our volunteers who keep things going at PHP,” said Kenney. “To see someone young like Letty volunteering with such a big heart and respect for her fellow humankind should give all of us hope for the future.”
