The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

Sophomore Donnie Denham drives to make change

Sophomore Donnie Denham unloads a truck full of food for those in need. Denham was inspired to go out and make a difference in his community so he could feel that he was doing something that will impact others lives. “I love going out, spending my weekends away from friends, to go make someone else feel special,” Denham said. “I think sometimes we take for granted what we have in life. It doesn’t hurt to get out of your comfort zone to make someone else feel special.”
Photo courtesy of Donnie Denham
Sophomore Donnie Denham unloads a truck full of food for those in need. Denham was inspired to go out and make a difference in his community so he could feel that he was doing something that will impact others lives. “I love going out, spending my weekends away from friends, to go make someone else feel special,” Denham said. “I think sometimes we take for granted what we have in life. It doesn’t hurt to get out of your comfort zone to make someone else feel special.”

Sophomore Donnie Denham runs St. Louis Food Rescue, an organization that delivers food to homeless people a few weekends each month.

“We contact [Einsteins, Costco and Whole Foods], and they give us some of their leftover food. On the weekends, we go and take it to homeless shelters around the area,” Denham said.

Committed to the cause, Denham is always on the hunt for fresh products to give to someone in need.

“At first while doing this, it felt more like a job, and it got in the way of schoolwork at times. The more that I have been doing this, the more I started to enjoy it and became more invested in it,” Denham said.

At first while doing this, it felt more like a job, and it got in the way of schoolwork at times. The more that I have been doing this, the more I started to enjoy it and became more invested in it,

— sophomore Donnie Denham

Piles of bags sit in Denham’s living room, full of food and ready to be donated.

“It’s great to see all the smiles that you get when you [deliver the food]. It’s a great feeling, and I love getting to meet the people and learn about their lives and what they have to go through,” Denham said. 

Denham strives to commit to this until he is able to pass it onto someone with the same determination.

“I’ve been running [the organization] for two years now. I first started volunteering for them, then, the original person running it moved, and he asked me if I wanted to take over at his spot. I was more than happy to take over,” Denham said.

Denham has found inspiration from the people he donates food to. It gives him something to look forward to on the weekends.

“I have been able to learn so much from these people, and I look at life so much differently now in a way that I should be grateful for what I have and take advantage of every opportunity I get because we never know how many more we have left,” Denham said.

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Tre Bell, Staff Writer
Pronouns: he/him I am a senior, and this will be my fourth year on staff. At first, I wanted to do yearbook because it seemed like that's what everyone was doing, so I wanted to be with them. Klevens, however, told me she thought I would be a great writer and I took her word for it. Now, I am really glad I did. I think my friends love that I am always in a positive mood, that I always try to light up a room and that I am always there to be an ear for them when things aren’t going their way. I love hanging out with my friends. I also spend all of my time playing sports. I play football, basketball and run track, so I am always working out. I like actually listening to the lyrics of songs to understand what is being said; sometimes it’s very relatable. I hope I have a very fun and eventful senior year.
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Sophomore Donnie Denham drives to make change