17-year-old Erin Kearns spends a lot of her free time helping others, especially kids.
“I love working with the kids, they’re awesome,” Erin said.
The senior at Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree was one of two students chosen to represent Campus Kitchen at UMass Boston, an organization that uses donated food to prepare and deliver meals to those in need.
“Normally I have an application process and allow kids to apply, but Erin I sought out because of the kind of person she is,” Carol O’Brien of the Campus Ministry said.
Erin and classmate Sinead McGrath now spend one day a week at the Walter Denney Boys and Girls Club.
“We teach a nutrition class and we sometimes help with a cooking shift,” Sinead said.
“We have a different plan every single week and this week is greens so we’re just showing the kids what kind of greens they can eat…Last week was fruits and vegetables, so they are learning the different food groups,” Erin said.
When Erin isn’t helping in her own community, she is helping in Haiti volunteering at an orphanage.
“I was really nervous but once you got there at the orphanage with the kids, it’s life-changing, they’re absolutely amazing…Last time we were building a medical clinic and this year I’ll be spending three weeks there,” Erin said.
Erin said volunteering is a big part of her life, and that is never going to change.
“It really chances your life and you’ll want to do more,” Erin said.
Erin wants to be a traveling nurse and bring aid to children in countries across the world.