Student Leadership - New Horizons of Southwest Florida https://newhorizonsofswfl.org Empowering Tomorrow's Generation Today Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:10:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://newhorizonsofswfl.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/admin-ajax-150x150.png Student Leadership - New Horizons of Southwest Florida https://newhorizonsofswfl.org 32 32 Leading Through Service https://newhorizonsofswfl.org/2025/07/08/leading-through-service/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=leading-through-service Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:04:38 +0000 https://newhorizonsofswfl.org/?p=9988 Super Teens Lead Through Service at Bonita Springs Assistance Office This summer, students from our Super Teens Leadership Camp embraced leadership not only in words, but in action: stepping up to serve their community in meaningful ways. Super Teens, club directors, and Bonita Springs Assistance Office team and volunteers—ready to serve together! It all began […]

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Super Teens Lead Through Service at Bonita Springs Assistance Office

This summer, students from our Super Teens Leadership Camp embraced leadership not only in words, but in action: stepping up to serve their community in meaningful ways.

Super Teens, club directors, and Bonita Springs Assistance Office team and volunteers—ready to serve together!

It all began during the first week of camp, when Caily Martin, Director of Operations at the Bonita Springs Assistance Office, visited the students to share about her organization’s mission. Inspired by her words, the Super Teens decided to volunteer at the Assistance Office’s evening food pantry and the response was incredible.

Across three Thursdays in June, students served in every part of the food distribution process:
– Packing and labeling groceries
– Loading food into cars in the drive-thru
– Translating for Spanish-speaking families
– Welcoming and supporting clients along the way

Participation grew each week, with 35 students volunteering the first time and 49 by the final visit.

Our dedicated club directors were with the Super Teens every step of the way, providing guidance, encouragement, and mentorship—helping turn these service hours into powerful leadership lessons.

Together, they made a big impact:

  • 94 households served

  • 348 individuals supported

  • 11 new households welcomed

  • 30 students registered for school supplies

  • 18 babies signed up for free diaper deliveries

“The kids did such an amazing job—they were so helpful, so polite, and so fun! Can’t wait to have you back.” — Caily Martin, Director of Operations, Bonita Springs Assistance Office

Super Teens hard at work packing and preparing food to support families in need.

“Caily and I can’t stop talking about how much fun we had working with the camp kids. They were an amazing group; everyone wanted to help in whatever way they could.”— Grace Farris, Program Assistant

Even more inspiring? The Bonita Springs Assistance Office invited our Super Teens to return and volunteer again, this time on their own time or alongside their families. That’s how much of an impact they made.

This pantry project was just one of several impactful service experiences during the 2025 Super Teens Leadership Camp. Each opportunity helped our students grow in character, compassion, and confidence.

At New Horizons of SWFL, we believe in nurturing servant leaders who grow in faith, leadership, and love for their neighbors. This summer, our Super Teens lived out the values we hold dear: serving others not for recognition, but because it’s what God calls us to do.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
— 1 Peter 4:10

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Bonita Springs Assistance Office for their generous partnership and for welcoming our students with open arms. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of families throughout our community.

Teamwork in action: Super Teens and Bonita Springs Assistance Office volunteers working side by side.
Super Teens at the delivery station: packing cars, welcoming families, and providing translation support.

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