South Carolina Teen Launches Non-Profit to Help the Homeless

Catholic faculty scholar goals to be a “Vibrant Mild” in his neighborhood

Serving to folks has all the time been necessary to Connor Farrell. His dad and mom set an instance, taking into their dwelling foster kids who have been dealing with a disaster state of affairs. And because the Farrells drove to and from faculty, they typically noticed homeless people alongside their route; so the Farrell kids — Mary Kate, Connor, Evan and Maggie — helped to distribute snacks and toiletries to these in want.

Through the pandemic, the issue loomed even bigger: With folks remoted at dwelling, there was a rise in demand; however on the similar time, provide chain delays meant that widespread self-care merchandise have been typically arduous to acquire. Moreover, there was a rise within the homeless inhabitants in Greenville, South Carolina, the place the Farrells made their dwelling.

Connor and his household, members of St. Mary Magdalene parish in Simpsonville, sat down and mentioned how they might higher assist these in want. Driving to and from faculty, they’d handed the Triune Mercy Heart, a non-denominational church that ministered to the homeless inhabitants, and had typically seen folks in want gathered there; so Connor and his siblings reached out to the pastor to ask how they may assist. The 4 Farrell kids started packaging hygiene kits which included primary requirements resembling toothpaste and toothbrushes, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, razors and washcloths. As well as, they tucked into every hygiene package an inspirational Bible quote. Every month, the household dropped off the hygiene kits on the Triune Mercy Heart and on the Upstate Workplace of Catholic Charities.

Issues have modified within the ensuing years. Mary Kate, the oldest of the Farrell kids, has gone on to attend school at Villanova College, and the youthful kids have gone on to pursue different pursuits. Connor Farrell, now a junior at St. Joseph Excessive Faculty in Greenville, has continued the challenge and has taken it to a brand new degree. With help from his father, an lawyer, Connor based a nonprofit group, Vibrant Lights Greenville, to raised meet the wants of the realm’s homeless inhabitants. Connor utilized for and obtained a 501(c)(3) standing for his charitable group, making it simpler for individuals who sympathize along with his trigger to affix in help. Earlier this 12 months, Connor’s Vibrant Lights Greenville was awarded a $1,500 International Youth Mobilization Grant sponsored by the World Well being Group. That grant enabled Connor to develop the outreach and to launch a brand new web site (www.brightlightsgreenville.com).

The organizations which Connor’s ministry helps have been greater than grateful for his beneficiant contributions to the homeless in the area people. Jennifer Foust Sheorn, pastor and director of the Triune Mercy Heart, had met Connor when she started her work on the Heart in July 2020. She reported that she had loved attending to know the younger man by emails, which he had initiated, asking what he and his household may do to assist these experiencing homelessness within the Greenville space. “I’ve been most impressed with this younger man,” she stated.

Connor is a self-starter. He’s sort, clever, thoughtful, pleasant and hardworking, and he has such an amazing ardour for service to the least of those.

Connor discovered about Triune by his church, and now as soon as a month he leads the best way by packing and delivering over 50 hygiene kits to carry together with over 100 meals to serve to our parishioners. I want that each freshman in highschool had Connor’s drive and dedication to the deprived. One of many widespread issues we hear from our parishioners is what number of of them really feel like others look proper previous them and don’t actually see them nor take the time to point out them respect or grant them dignity. Connor is an exception to the rule. By way of the generosity of Connor, his household and church neighborhood, we’re capable of feed folks and provide them a bag of dignity and respect in a hygiene package. Greater than that although, Connor is setting an instance for his friends by his selfless acts of service and method to caring for others.

Jessica Thrall, website administrator for the Upstate Regional Workplace of Catholic Charities of South Carolina, stated:

Connor is a shiny younger man who exudes a ardour for serving his neighborhood. It’s a pleasure for Catholic Charities Upstate to companion with Vibrant Lights Greenville as a result of by their partnership we’re capable of meet extra of the neighborhood’s hygiene wants.

Connor Farrell talked lately with the Register about his challenge, and about his hopes for increasing the service to a wider space — whilst he approaches his school years. “Initially, it was a household challenge,” Connor stated, “Nonetheless, it grew to become a private challenge for me as a result of I’m the one who’s taken it to a brand new degree. And when the pandemic hit, there was a better want — due to larger demand for hygiene merchandise, and due to provide chain points, coupled with a rise within the homeless inhabitants in Greenville.”

Connor has in some way managed to steadiness his schoolwork, athletics (he’s a aggressive swimmer on his highschool group in addition to a neighborhood group), and his administration of Vibrant Lights GVL. With school on the horizon, Connor plans to proceed managing the web site and dealing with the group from his dorm room. He hopes that his youthful siblings will help to pack the hygiene packages, and he’ll proceed the challenge as his time permits.

Connor described himself as “a really unbiased particular person” — so it made sense that he would pursue his objective of serving to the homeless. Requested whether or not his Catholic religion performed an element in his empathy for these in want, he answered:

Completely! One thing that wasn’t talked about in a lot of the information articles [about Bright Lights Greenville] is that normally we package deal in our hygiene kits a motivational Bible verse, together with private care objects. That’s a method that we carry the side of religion into our group.

The younger entrepreneur understood that there are particular authorized restrictions which prohibit a non-profit affiliation from affiliating with a church. “However,” he added, “we acknowledge that the homeless are priceless human beings, made within the picture and likeness of God.”

Requested how readers may help his efforts, Connor instructed that they try his web site, Vibrant Lights Greenville, to make a donation or to be taught extra concerning the group.