Faces of the Valley: Teenage trio starts faith-based charitable endeavor in Freeport

Who says social media is all bad for young people?

A YouTube video gave 16-year-old Dawson Gaillot the idea to start The Hope Project, a Catholic charitable venture whose first undertaking is a hygiene pantry along High and Fifth streets in Freeport.

After watching the video in January, the Freeport Area High School sophomore texted his girlfriend, Peyton Los, and a cousin, Jessie Temoshenko, with the proposition to offer toiletries, diapers, menstrual products and other everyday items to people in need.

“I was like, ‘Let’s do it,’ ” Temoshenko said.

Temoshenko, 15, is a sophomore at Knoch High School and lives in Saxonburg. Los, 16, of Freeport goes to Freeport Area High School.

The group stocked a 6-foot-high pantry for the first time Monday with a portion of roughly 350 donated items. The rest are stored at the community center of St. Mary, Mother of God Parish, where all three attend church.

They’re working on a proper sign above the pantry, but, for now, it’s marked by a laminated sheet of paper asking people to abide by the honor system.

“I think people will respect it,” Gaillot said, pointing to the tightknit nature of the small borough.

Support has come from the church’s parishioners, including a $200 donation from the mothers group, as well as fellow high school students and other community members.

“I pitched it to one person, and it kind of just naturally spread through the grapevine,” Gaillot said.

They’re getting some help from the parents, too, who have lent their support and provided transportation.

Gaillot’s mother, Michele, said giving back comes naturally for her son.

“He was given a lot of gifts that he’s utilizing,” Michele Gaillot said. “He definitely is a leader and wants to make a difference.”

The Rev. Rick Kosisko of St. Mary, Mother of God had a similar assessment, adding that The Hope Project might inspire other teenagers to become more involved in the community.

“Hopefully, some other young people look at that and say, ‘What can I do?’ ” Kosisko said.

This isn’t the first time the trio has shown a knack for community service.

Temoshenko is gearing up for her fourth summer of running a vegetable stand in her driveway, with half of the profits going toward food and drinks for emergency responders.

Gaillot and Los are vice president and treasurer of student council, respectively, and are pursuing junior school board positions for the upcoming academic year.

Next on the agenda is getting The Hope Project officially registered as a nonprofit. After that, the group may add pantries across town or in other communities, according to Gaillot.

People interested in donating money or hygiene products can message @thehopeproject412 on Instagram.