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Teen Moms Choose Life director Debbie Newell (second from right) takes a break from putting together Thanksgiving meal boxes with some of her “Big Sisters” and other volunteers. SUBMITTED PHOTO
At this time of year, when holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas find those who have seeking out to help those who have not, we’re reminded of a quote from our hero, Mr. Rogers, about what happens when the going gets tough:
“Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
Locally, some of the helpers, even though they’ve retired from their helping role … they still keep on helping.
Debbie Newell is director and mentor for Teen Moms Choose Life, an organization and support system dedicated to help young moms who are faced with a difficult decision to have a baby in high school. She was a longtime counselor at Zenith High School, and while she retired from that a few years ago, she’s still a fixture around the school, helping restock its pantry and supply closet for teen moms every Friday.
She still provides TMCL support, and it’s TMCL that supports the community through a Thanksgiving meal giveaway event, that reached its sixth year this week.
Each year, TMCL alumni — board members called “the Big Sisters” — come and help package up the meals, and this year they got the help of all of the Zenith school.
“It works because we’ve got great people pitching in,” Newell said. “We serviced the students in need as well as the community of our former teen mom families who are in need. We empower our moms and we become family, we support them through thick and thin.”
The program gets its funding from donations throughout the year, and also receives donations from the Osceola County School District, and through Newell’s personal ties to the Central Florida Academy of Chefs, who donated food.
The last five weeks of the year is when Newell said organizations like hers are tested the most.
“There are so many organizations out there helping right now,” Newell said. “Which is wonderful because there’s so many people and families who are in need. I used to worry about helping all the people we need to. Now I hear from other groups, like this year, they offered their extra turkeys to us.”
Now with Christmas exactly one month away, Newell said the focus shifts to that holiday and TMCL’s annual toy drive.
“I take off my pilgrim hat and put on my Santa hat,” she said.
Those who wish to help with that drive or others in the future can check TMCL’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TeenMomsChooseLife/) page or email teenmoms chooselife@gmail.com.
