Sophomore Anya King-Emanuele has helped touch many families’ hearts by attending a mission trip to help struggling families. Mission trips are short-term volunteer opportunities to help people in different communities.
“We went to Kentucky for our mission trip and got to help various families who were struggling. The main thing I took from the trip was to never judge someone’s situation off of what you see,” King-Emanuele said.
The Appalachian Mountains are one of the poorest regions in the United States. This really drew King-Emanuele’s attention, and made her want to help.
“I want to help people, and it made me sad to hear what they had to go through. If we can help then we will. These people gave it their all. Yes, it wasn’t enough to live the best life but they enjoyed it. This made me very appreciative of the things I have in life,” King-Emanuele said.
TKing-Emanuele’s father, who organized the mission trip, saw first hand the impact she had on the people who were living in this struggling area.
“Anya was so well liked by the local community members that some of the ladies she worked with at the food pantry didn’t want her to ever leave. One lady even claimed Anya as hers and referred to Anya as her ‘girl.’ Anya impacted the lives of many people on the trip, including a few young girls that she went out into the community to spend time with,” King- Emanuele’s father John Emanuele said.
Different perspectives on situations are vital, King-Emanuele has an open mindset, and various positive and interesting qualities that make up her life.
“Anya is a devoted practicing Christian and a Girl Scout. These things may not be the ‘coolest’ things to be in high school; however, they matter to her. Anya puts others before herself. She has an understanding that helping people and making them feel important matters more than having material items, and popularity,” Emanuele said.
The people of the Appalachian region are faced with many different struggles, King- Emanuele noticed how they appreciate what they have.
“The kids were very grateful for what they had. They enjoyed going outside and making the most of their surroundings; they didn’t wish for more toys or newer and nicer things. They were very satisfied and happy with what they had even if it was very minimal,” King-Emanuele said.
