Teens give helping hand to homeless

COEUR d'ALENE — Probation violations and an arson charge helped Cameron Bounds gain a familiarity with the Kootenai County Juvenile Detention Center.

When the 14-year-old flicked a cigarette onto a patch of dry Tubbs Hill grass last summer, he said, he consequently torched 6 acres and spent four months behind bars.

Bounds was serving the tail-end of his sentence last Thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving, he was serving the homeless.

A small group of teenagers — part of the Family Support Court program — smiled, laughed and conveyed an eagerness to help the unfortunate on Thursday at Father Bill's Kitchen of St. Vincent de Paul, serving Thanksgiving dinner to more than 30 people.

The program, geared to rehabilitate troubled teens, is aided by parents who helped provide the sizable feast.

"I've been doing way better. My grades are way up, I'm actually helping out my parents," said Bounds, wearing plastic gloves while dishing out food. "It feels good to help out. Two years ago I wouldn't have done anything like this. I was an angry kid."

Bounds, Kalvin McCool, Trevor Young and Elliot Johnson, all of whom spent time in juvenile detention, helped the Thanksgiving event from start to finish.

Annie Parker, Bounds' mother, approached St. Vincent de Paul about the prospect of the Family Support Court program helping out and giving the kids the opportunity to log public service time and give them perspective in helping people with hardships.

Heather Eddy, manager of St. Vinny's help center and kitchen, was sold on the idea.

"It's so good for them. I think sometimes they don't realize how good they have it," Eddy said of the teens. "Teenagers can be entitled, but when they come here it really helps put life into perspective for them.

"We were all kids and made stupid mistakes. It's a great way to give back to the community, and for them to gain compassion."

Parker agreed.

"It really helps open their eyes to things," Parker said. "These are kids who want to help."

The program even shuttled homeless folks from the area to and from the kitchen. Some of the teens' probation officers even made the trip as well as other locals wanting to help.

St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director Jeff Conroy has helped spearhead many events that have helped the less fortunate. He was impressed by the spirit of this particular cause.

"This benefits a lot of people, even the kids because it gives them an opportunity to serve," Conroy said. "This is what's it's all about, and it's great to have such an amazing staff to help put this on."