Hilliard teens transform Independence Day Parade into summer food drive

Photo of two young men in front of the Hilliard Food Pantry truck

While most people enjoy fireworks and patriotic festivities on July 4, two Hilliard teens will be busy making a difference.

Brothers Sam and Charlie Owsley, ages 13 and 15, are teaming up with the Hilliard Food Pantry to organize a food collection before the Hilliard Independence Day Parade, held July 4 in Downtown Hilliard.

The parade steps off at 9 a.m. from the Franklin County Fairgrounds onto Main Street/Avery Road at the curve, continues down Main Street, turns left on Cemetery Road, turns left on Norwich Street, then turns right on Columbia Streets and exits through the fairgrounds.

The roadways are expected to close at 8:45 a.m.

Parade attendees are invited to bring non-perishable food items. Volunteers will gather the items during the minutes leading up to the paradeโ€™s start.

After volunteering at food drives with St. Brendan Church, the brothers were inspired to spearhead their own project.

โ€œWe did a food collection during Thanksgiving, but we wanted to do one in the summer because thatโ€™s when they need the most food,โ€ Sam said. โ€œIโ€™ve always felt bad for those who are less fortunate than us, and I felt like we should do something about it. Thatโ€™s how we came up with this idea.โ€

According to Erin West, the executive director of the food pantry, donations tend to decline during the summer season.

โ€œA lot of people are thinking about food during the Thanksgiving-Christmas season,โ€ West said. โ€œRight now, we have less food because it just isnโ€™t on peopleโ€™s minds.โ€

Specifically, the pantry needs shelf-stable food, canned goods, soup, and boxed pasta, along with feminine products and toilet paper.

With some help from their mom, Sam and Charlie led the project by designing flyers, setting up a police escort, and contacting local businesses. The boys walked door to door talking to community members about their initiative in hopes of getting the word out about their mission.

โ€œWeโ€™ve grown up in Hilliard our whole lives,โ€ Charlie said. โ€œThe community has given so much to us, and I think this will be a wonderful opportunity to give back.โ€

โ€œThis isnโ€™t some random stranger,โ€ West added. โ€œThese are folks right here in our community who are hungry. It means so much that young people care this much about something bigger than themselves.โ€

A map showing the route of the Independence Day Parade
A flyer for the Food for the 4th food drive

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