Posted at: 04/07/2008 4:18 PM | WHEC.com
Updated at: 04/15/2009 6:16 PM
By: Berkeley Brean
|
Print Story
2008 ESL Jefferson Award Winner: Anthony Venette
Most kids get out of their car and walk into the mall or the movies. Anthony Venette walks into a soup kitchen. He first came to St. Peter’s kitchen in the seventh grade, now he spends Christmas days here feeding the poor.
“First when I came here in seventh grade Christmas Eve. I saw the extreme poverty that people were in and it just made me appreciate what I had. It made me feel that I’m blessed and I should be able to spread that around and help others,” Venette said.
That help has taken from the McQuaid football field to the poorest neighborhoods in the Dominican Republic. Last summer, he spent seven days in the country building latrines.
“I guess maybe put a smile on somebody’s face for five minutes," He said. "That’s good enough for me.”
Anthony's mom Marie Venette said, “It’s very joyous to see him and see him be excited afterwards and coming back from Dominican Republic just feeling like wow, we really made a difference there.”
Venette has volunteered at the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and the Fairport Baptist Home. He’s already amassed more than 500 hours of community service. McQuaid requires 100 hours to graduate.
Venette said winning the Jefferson Award is recognition for what he’s done and motivation to do more. He said it tells him he’s doing the right thing.
“I guess continue until I don’t feel like doing it anymore and I don’t think I’m going to stop anytime soon,” said Venette.
