The Clermont Youth Council has a heart for the homeless.

The teens serving in the City of Clermont’s program initiated a project to help the local homeless population and recently brought it to the finish line by delivering over 250 toiletry-filled care packs to the Clermont Police Department for distribution.

“These young Champions are a shining example of giving back to the community,” Interim City Manager Susan Dauderis says.

Members Luis Mustafa, Mary Landaberde, Tyler Irby and alumnae Kylee Sakur participated, and over the course of several months, they collected donations.

They then met to assemble the bags with socks, razors, toothbrushes, soaps, shampoo and this note: “A little helping hand during these trying times, from a community that cares.”

Touched by the lives the results of their efforts will touch, Mary says: “Some of us know people who are homeless, so this was personal to us.”

The youth council purchased the drawstring bags using prize money they won from the 2019 Municipal Youth Council Video Competition, sponsored by the Florida League of Cities. “Using their prize money to help the homeless reflects these teens’ character and selflessness,” Program Sponsor Kathryn Deen says. “We are proud of them and we support their efforts.”

To learn more about the Clermont Youth Council or to apply to join, visit www.ClermontFL.gov/youth.