At Boys Town, we teach love! Just as Father Flanagan did more than 100 years ago when he founded Boys Town, we believe that every child deserves to feel valued and loved. That concept is often life-changing to our youth who arrive at Boys Town after suffering years of abuse and neglect. Many of them come from environments where they don’t feel safe. They have never experienced life in a stable family environment and sadly, they often feel unloved. It’s our mission to change all that.
It's amazing to watch the transformation of our youth as they learn to overcome the adversity they have faced and become the best versions of themselves – happy, productive and loved. An attitude of gratitude arises, and our kids learn the importance of giving back in response to all they have been given. That’s why community service and giving back to others is an integral part of life at Boys Town as it not only contributes to their personal growth and development, but it also shows the surrounding community how much the students care.
"It's important for us to get out and give back to the community because people have given so much to us.” Shay, Boys Town Youth
From ringing bells to serving food to the homeless, the kids at Boys Town are regularly exposed to the power of giving back. Here a few recent highlights:
Honey Sunday
Boys Town Youth volunteered to go door-to-door selling bottles of honey in this year’s Honey Sunday event held on November 5, in support of the Ollie Webb Center, an organization that enriches the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through collaboration, advocacy, and education. Proceeds from the sale of the honey go to support Ollie Webb’s valuable programs and services. 235 Boys Town youth and 75 staff members participated and sold honey bears, raising over $18,000 for the organization.
Operation Christmas Child
Boys Town youth are participating in this year’s Operation Christmas Child program, sponsored by the Samaritan’s Purse International Relief Fund. The kids will pack more than 100 shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and personal care items that will be donated to children in need around the world. For many, it will be the first gift they have ever received.
Salvation Army Bell-Ringing
Ringing bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Drive has become an annual tradition for Boys Town Youth. The money raised through this effort is used by the Salvation Army to assist more than 23 million people annually – many of whom are homeless and hungry. This year, Boys Town youth filled 54 time slots on the Salvation Army’s bell-ringing schedule.
At Boys Town, we are on a mission to help our youth to experience the joy of giving back to the communities they call home.