By Gabrielle Terrett

The Vicksburg Post

Nonprofit organizations in the community constantly work to improve the lives of local youth. However, it is not very often that you see the youth trying to improve the lives of others on their own.

Asia Brown, a senior at Warren Central High School, has done just so. Over the past few months, Brown has set out different boxes in different locations to collect items for the local women’s and children’s shelter. Her inspiration, she says, came from God.

“What really inspired me to do this drive was that I really want to go to Spelman College and I’ve been talking to an alumni and she’s been mentoring me and giving me tips. She kind of challenged me and she said ‘I really want you to do more. I want you to do something and make an impact in your community.’” said Brown.

“So I was thinking and I really couldn’t decide what I wanted to do but then I felt like God put it on my heart to do a drive for the women’s shelter because I’ve always been passionate about things like that.

“I looked up different women’s shelters and I came across the Women’s Restoration Shelter and I went on their website and saw all the great work they’ve done in the community and surrounding areas.”

Being the senior class vice president, a member of the National Honor Society, HOSA and a number of other organizations on campus, Brown took time out of her schedule to do what many could never fathom.

Brown also garnered support from the community, reaching out to spread the word.

“Mr. Mayfield from Warren Central High School just recently did a tie drive with his organization G.I.V.E. and he heard about my drive and asked if I wanted or needed help,” Brown said. “He put an ad in the paper and he kind of got the word out. I’m in the National Honor Society as well and they allowed me to make an announcement at our meeting and I had some of those members donate. I’ve just had so many family members and friends get the word out. Even at my church, Travelers Rest Baptist Church, my pastor let me speak about it during service. So just a lot of people have helped me.”

Variety of donations

She collected a variety of items from the different sites to donate.

“It was a broad array of items that were donated,” she said. “I collected toiletries, cosmetics, people donated clothes, cleaning supplies, tissues paper, brooms, diapers and all kinds of stuff. People even donated kids items like toys and wipes. So I had a lot of different items.”

Brown is no stranger to volunteering her time and service to the community.

“I have volunteered before with the April Green Dance Studio,” she said. “I’ve also volunteered in the mornings at different elementary schools with my friend, when we don’t have classes in the morning’s at Bovina Elementary School, Beechwood Elementary School and Bowmar Elementary School.

“So I’ve been helping them in classes, helping them with whatever they need and I’ve also volunteered with the YMCA, United Way and the Salvation Army,”  Brown said.

Brown hopes to hold more drives in the future. In fact, she is in the process of hosting another in December.

Brown hopes that she inspires people in the community with her efforts and gives them the courage to do more for their community.

“I feel as though this was extremely important because for one, God told me to do it,” she said. “I really wanted to be obedient to God. And two, this could be me one day. I never know what’s going to happen one day. I may be homeless one day and have to live in a shelter and live off of donations.”