A Young Boy with a Passion for Helping the Homeless

The following was written and submitted by Cinnaminson Middle School student Fiona Flynn.

Some of you may know George Snedden as the class clown of the sixth grade.

As an example, for class picture day, he had a giant smile full of fake teeth, which topped the wig he wore from last year’s class picture. But many of you may not know the compassionate, benevolent side of George Snedden. I had an opportunity to explore this side of him, when he shared with me his humanitarian acts he has performed throughout his young life. George has a passion for helping the homeless.

It all started when George was around 6 years old. He was enjoying the annual Thanksgiving parade in Philadelphia when he spotted homeless people on a street corner. Curious, he asked his father if they too celebrated Thanksgiving like everyone else. To his surprise, the answer was no. 

It was at that time George made a commitment to provide as many homeless people the resemblance of a “homemade” Thanksgiving feast, later to be called "Thanksgiving in a bag.” George and his family discovered a new tradition.  Every year since then, they make over 50 turkey sandwiches, with a side of cranberry sauce, a drink and snack, and hand them out during the Thanksgiving parade. The bags are decorated with Thanksgiving day cheer.

Have his efforts stop there? Not in George's eyes. As the years progressed, so have George’s efforts to do more for the homeless. Eight months ago, George volunteered his time at a soup kitchen in Camden. Since it was his first time there, George was a little frightened, he wasn’t sure what to expect. However, he came to understand how down and out some people are, and how much the appreciated the help at the soup kitchen.

The Sneddens, along with about nine other families, come together at the end of each month and prepare and serve all the homeless people that come. So far, George has been at this soup kitchen seven times and cannot wait to go again.

George's mind is still at work thinking of other ways to help the homeless. He has hosted blanket drives after noticing how cold some of the homeless people were during the winter months at the soup kitchen. He has also started food drives along with his newest idea: a water bottle drive.

We all know how hot it gets during the summer, and we all take water for granted. Well George has realized that not everybody has easy access to drinking water. Wanting more help than just his family on this drive, George decided to make a flier to post up around his school. However, since it was the last two weeks of school, the office did not get the approval in time to hang the fliers. But that did not deter George, and the water drive went over successfully.

Sadly, nobody knows, except for his family and closest friends, how much time, effort and heart he has put into helping the homeless. Some people don’t even know what he is doing at all. What George is now doing is a wonderful thing and he should keep up his passion. 

If you would like to learn more about what George has been doing since day 1, see pictures of him doing volunteer work or find out when his next drive is you can find him on Facebook at Helping the Homeless.