Teens distributing meals for Saint Matthews House

People were actually able to enjoy a meal on Thanksgiving because of the generosity of strangers.

LaQuentin Cotton came to see familiar faces at Saint Matthew’s House’s food distribution on Thanksgiving. He was born and raised in Collier County and has spent more than a decade working with the homeless.

“That is gratifying to know you can impact somebody’s life or just help impact,” said Cotton.

Now, Cotton is the Associate Director of Group Home Operations at Youth Haven. He spent his Thanksgiving picking up meals for the more than 50 teenagers who live at the home.

“The staff here will make sure they feel at home and the meals will be awesome the kids will have fun we’ll have some games for them outside,” said Cotton. “We’ll have food will have drinks and will have lots of sweets as the kids like to have and we’re just going to try to make it as normal as possible.”

LaQuentin also gave the teens the chance to give back by having them carve the turkeys included in Saint Matthews House Thanksgiving Meals.

Despite her own hardships, Mitchaella Cetoute was happy to help. “Since I was little I just always like to help people,” Cetoute said. “And the other kids we were just happy to be able to give back also.”

“Give them the opportunity to say, ‘you know my situation may be bad but it’s not as bad as somebody else’s’ so it gives them that ability to say I helped. I gave back to my community,” said Cotton.

Youth Haven got a $500 donation from Trinity By the Cove Episcopal church in Naples for food through Thanksgiving weekend.