On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the RiverBend Growth Association-Young Adults Committee visited Madison County Catholic Charities to help prepare for their food pantry and upcoming fundraiser. Madison County Catholic Charities (MCCC) is an organization that provides counseling, utility aid, a food pantry, help with medications and transportation and helps the unhoused obtain IDs. Madison County Catholic Charities has been serving the community for forty years with a mission to reflect God’s love and provide the services they can or connect people with those who can help. They strive to provide for those in need. A common misconception is that one has to be Catholic to receive aid or work and volunteer with MCCC, but they provide help to everyone in need and anyone can volunteer! Madison County Catholic Charities has two locations: One in Alton and one in Granite City. Their Granite City location helps with rent and utility bills, and transportation and they have a notary on site to help the unhoused get IDs. The Alton location provides a food pantry, counseling and help with paying for medications. MCCC serves 11,000 people a year from their food pantry alone and 11,800 people per year in total. Their food pantry is open twice a week where they give food to people and families who come by.
Several non-profits presented to the YAC in September 2024. Collectively, the Young Adults Committee selected MCCC as one of the five non-profits they would work with throughout the school year. Then, each school got the opportunity to lead the rest of the group on a volunteer experience. Alton High chose Madison County Catholic Charities because of its obvious connection to the community and ambition to make a difference in people’s lives.
The Young Adults Committee comprises two juniors and two seniors from each school. The four Alton High School representatives are seniors Adie Bemis and Seana Grey and juniors Kennedy Lacey and Eden Hough.
- Adie is a dedicated senior at Alton High School, excelling in both music and academics. She is a member of the Wind Ensemble, Drum Major for the Marching 100, and a proud member of the National Honor Society. Outside of school, Adie volunteers at the Metro East Humane Society and Meowtown, and is actively involved in her church, The River. Adie is passionate about conservation and plans to continue her work in youth ministry while studying Environmental Science at Bradley University.
- Seana is involved in multiple extracurriculars at Alton High, including Marching 100, FCA, National Honors Society and student council. Additionally, she is the Mu Alpha Theta Vice President and HOSA Treasurer. Seana will be headed to Olivet Nazarene University this fall to major in biology on the premed track, hoping to become a pediatrician.
- Kennedy, Alton High School junior, is actively involved in Pathways to Womanhood/ Manhood, Upward Bound, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Senior Pearl Youth Group, Alton High Cheerleading program, and National Council of Negro Women Youth Chapter. Outside of her extracurricular activities, she is passionate about service and leadership, Kennedy plans to major in public relations with a minor in business at Texas Southern University.
- Eden is also a junior and is an avid member of Biology Club, FCA, Link Crew, and Student Council. She volunteers at MeowTown and TreeHouse Wildlife Center in her spare time and assists the audio/visual team at church every Sunday. Eden aspires to work with animals in the future with either a focus on pre-veterinary medicine or conservation ecology at the University of Illinois.
The YAC was not alone in the adventure of helping a local family. The Madison County Catholic Charities director, Denise Burton, helped plan how the Young Adults Committee could give back by volunteering at MCCC. In a meeting with the students from Alton High School, Denise emphasized the importance of volunteers.
She stated, “We always need volunteers.” There are always projects to do at MCCC, such as preparing for an upcoming fundraiser. Madison County Catholic Charities holds many fundraisers throughout the year.
Denise explained, “We do all of our own fundraising. Whatever we spend, we’re responsible for raising.” Thanks to Denise’s leadership skills, the Young Adults Committee was able to accomplish multiple days’ worth of preparations for the food pantry and upcoming fundraiser. The staff at MCCC truly demonstrated a passion for helping their community and served as an inspiration to members of the YAC.
During the two-hour timeframe, the committee was able to help MCCC prepare for their upcoming fundraiser by dusting off wine bottles for the wine pull and cleaning centerpieces for the event. The YAC also aided MCCC in getting ready for their food pantry, which is open twice a week, by readying the food baskets and unloading pallets of food. A central theme at every non-profit the group has visited this year has been that working together is an important aspect of being part of a community. In just a short time, the YAC helped many lives by working together as a cohesive team.
Civic Memorial senior Marissa Perez stated, “Many hands make light work and communication is key. It never hurts to communicate so everyone is on the same page.” The Young Adults Committee gained insight into what it takes to serve the community.
Alton senior Seana Grey said in regards to volunteering at MCCC that “it was an experience that opened [her] eyes to the variety of ways [she] can make a difference in the community even by doing something as seemingly small as dusting off wine bottles. [She] will cherish the memory of working with the Young Adults Committee at Madison County Catholic Charities.”
The committee also participated in a Q&A with director Denise Burton and got the chance to ask any questions about MCCC. It was a chance to take a deeper look at how MCCC impacts the community. Alton junior Kennedy Lacey explained, “Mrs. Burton answered all of our many questions which gave us insight about how impactful MCCC is to the Madison County area.” Madison County Catholic Charities is always looking for volunteers to assist with their fundraisers and food pantry. The RiverBend Growth Association Young Adults Committee can attest that this is a non-profit with which everyone should volunteer.
