Selfless Teen Gives Up Her Own Graduation Party To Throw Pizza Bash for Those in Need
Many people are singing the lyrics to “School’s Out” this time of year. The time to celebrate is upon many students, and high school seniors, in particular, are jumping for joy.
One graduating senior from Houston, Texas, had some unconventional plans in mind when it came to ending her high school career in style.
Leanne Carrasco of Waltrip High School decided that rather than throw a graduation party with the focus on herself, she wanted to focus on giving back to her community.
Carrasco has volunteered with her family at Star of Hope Family Development Center in the past. This time, she wanted to go the extra mile to throw a pizza party the residents wouldn’t soon forget.
Instead of a graduation party, Waltrip HS Senior Leanne Carrasco asked family and friends to throw a pizza party for the homeless women and children @StarOfHope. They provided and served 95 pizzas and made and distributed 400 “toiletry bags”. pic.twitter.com/Oy0kucI5Yi
— Scott Arthur (@ScottCArthur) June 3, 2019
“Not a lot of people have the same options as me. It’s not fair,” Carrasco told CNN. “There are a lot of people who need help. So I give it.”
With a large group of her friends, Carrasco ordered over 90 pizzas and geared up for the fun. In preparation for the party, the teen and her friends spent time putting together hundreds of hygiene bags that included necessities like toothbrushes and toothpaste, wipes and deodorant.
When the day for the party came, the teens worked hard to serve the women and children — about 200 of them — at the center.
“It’s very fulfilling to know that I’m able to help others instead of just helping myself,” the teenager told WEHT. “It feels so amazing.”
The afternoon was filled with serving, but it gave the residents so much more than a hot meal.
“They (the teens) had respect for these people,” a spokesman for Star of Hope, Scott Arthur, told CNN. “They saw them as peers. The residents saw this as a validation that people do care.”
“I just want to be a blessing and show these beautiful women and children that no matter what, someone does care,” Carrasco told KPRC-TV.
Instead of a graduation bash, high school senior Leanne Carrasco threw a pizza party for the homeless: https://t.co/ngeDSQHwlN pic.twitter.com/NrZnUK1dGM
— Morning Express with Robin Meade (@MorningExp) June 4, 2019
Briar Cliff University, where Carrasco plans to attend college in the fall, praised their soon-to-be undergraduate for her kindness online.
“Incoming Charger Leanne Carrasco recently graduated from Waltrip High School in Texas & celebrated by hosting a pizza party for homeless residents at Star of Hope’s Women & Family Development Center,” Briar Cliff tweeted. “She plans to study nursing here this fall! #ThisIsBCU”
This young woman has a heart of gold and can no doubt be expected to do great things in her future as a nurse.
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