ENGLEWOOD — Latanya & the Youth of Englewood are seeking donations of winter clothes for the less fortunate.
The nonprofit has been around since June 2014 and its mission is to help build the self esteem and confidence of the community’s youths. Latanya Johnson, an Englewood resident, said the group is hosting a pre-Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 21 and wants attendees to leave with warm clothes.
“They’ll come in, sit down, get ... a plate and be able to select some clothing as they leave,” she said.
“I’m born and raised in Englewood so I know what my community needs, and what we don’t have. We have a lot of people who are struggling right now so I want to be able to do two things at once.”
The free dinner will be held at Holy Angels Church, 5638 S. Ashland, from 2-5 p.m.
Johnson said that people can donate gently worn clothes for men, women and children through Nov. 20. They can coordinate a drop-off time with her by sending an email to johnson_marie19@yahoo.com or calling 312-983-2855. The clothes will be collected at 1622 W. 82nd St.
Johnson started the organization because she wanted to give young people a safe place to go.
“I said, 'I’m doing this,'” she said. “I was tired of all the violence and these kids getting murdered. Our kids are leaving faster than the elderly. They don’t have a chance to grow up and be who they want to be. I got fed up and knew I needed to step in.”
Johnson works with youths ages 5-13 Mondays-Fridays at Ogden Park, 6500 S. Racine Ave. They participate in volunteer work together like cleaning parks and helping serve food at community events. They even put on fashion shows.
“It is so amazing working with them because they come to you scarred, but then they find out who you are, and that you love them,” she said. “I raise them all the way back up. I lift their spirits, which I love doing because when they’re happy, I’m happy.”
The organization also started a GoFundMe account to raise $5,000 for a van. Johnson said that she rides the bus with many of them and her assistant walks with others.
"It’s kind of hard because it’s starting to get cold and them walking in the cold bothers me," she said. "We want to get them to and from us safely."
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