Tillery cousins help prepare youth for school
Published 9:33 pm Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Youth in the area from needy families got equipped on Saturday for the coming school season thanks to a community service put on by the family of the late and beloved C. Faye Tillery, a former Suffolk Parks and Recreation employee.
Seventeen Tillery cousins, led by Vonda Carter, participated in the second annual Tillery Cousins Weekend in which they perform a community service, and this year they did two.
They went to a retirement home in the city on Friday, donating things like toiletries, puzzles, lotion and snacks and playing bingo with the residents.
Then, on Saturday, Carter had the idea, given the time of year, to give out school supplies to a hundred needy youths.
“I think it was really a success,” she said. “Because we hadn’t really pushed the advertising, I hadn’t expected to see that many people.”
The event was held at the Robert W. Harrell Jr. Physical Health and Education Center on Bank Street, set for 10 a.m. to noon, and Carter said there were people lined up there at 9 a.m.
“At certain points it became overwhelming,” she said, and though some notebooks were left over, the majority of supplies were gone by about 11:15 a.m., including 100 book bags.
The supplies were donated by members of the Tillery family and their friends.
“It’s really nice that people are actually helping the ones that need it,” said Natika Kelly, whose 8-year-old son William left a beneficiary of the event. “It’s a blessing.”
Cassandra Watkins came with six youths in tow, some of which were her own children and others who were neighbors who affectionately refer to her as their aunt. She noted how the event benefited those on disability and struggling just to pay their bills.
As she and the children left, she voiced a loud, “Thank you, God bless!” to the Tillery cousins and friends handing out supplies.
The final tally of children assisted came to 171.