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The youth had no idea the award was going to be given. They simply showed up to work at the food bank for their normal once a month shift.<\/p>\nROCKFORD, IL (May 26, 2007) \u2013 The Northern Illinois Food Bank surprised the junior and senior high youth groups at First Evangelical Covenant Church by naming them its Volunteer Organization of the Year on Wednesday night.
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\nThe youth had no idea the award was going to be given. They simply showed up to work at the food bank for their normal once a month shift.<\/p>\n
The food bank honored the group for their outstanding commitment. The youth have worked with the organization since 2005.<\/p>\n
The young people meet regularly on Wednesday, and \u201cServing Night\u201d is by far the most popular evening of the month. \u201cThey don\u2019t want to miss this one,\u201d says youth pastor David Ahrens. \u201cOur attitude is whatever they need done\u2014we\u2019re there to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n
During each two-hour work session, the group breaks down large containers of food into smaller ones, so that they can then be distributed to food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens in Northern Illinois.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve chosen this organization because we love what they are doing as great stewards and significantly helping those living in poverty in Northern Illinois,\u201d says Ahrens, who has served at the church for seven years. \u201cI believe that serving is the birthplace of humility\u2014and we get to practice that every month, right around the corner. We hope that attitude will spill into everyone and any corner God plants us on.\u201d<\/p>\n