Just before the weekend a youth group from Swift Current was out distributing food items to members of the community in need.

Preston Holder and his wife Vanessa are youth pastors with Alpine Church Of God and four members of the church's youth group were out distributing three food hampers to three families.

The hampers filled with things like non-perishables, sandwich supplies, and other food items.

Since beginning the program last year, Preston said that the response from the recipients of the gifts the first year made them want to continue.

"The families that got the hampers, they were so excited, the first year the one mom that got the hamper, she just wanted to give all the kids a hug, she was so excited, and it was just... It was awesome."

Noting that the families who received the hampers were not the only ones who benefited with the program, Preston said that the experience was valuable to the youth who took part in it.

"I think a lot of kids these days grow up and don't really see the benefits of generosity," he explained, reflecting on the impact it had on the youth. "They just see that if you give to somebody it's taking away from yourself, but if you get, especially when they're young, they see that giving to people will actually impact them positively, and you get something out of it too because it's a good feeling that you get out of it. It's something that you can't, well you can buy it because you're buying the food, but it's something that you can't get any other way than giving, I think the kids really need to have that."

Preston said that money for the food was raised within the Alpine Church Of God.

"We actually had a couple charitable donations from within our church body, the church itself gave, and then one of the ministries within the church gave, so that was pretty awesome."

Rather than do a charitable act anywhere else, Preston said that the event was intended to help the community of Swift Current.

"We wanted to do something that was within our own community because, there are a lot of programs in churches for going overseas and whatnot, and we wanted to be able to get together and give something that goes straight to the community."

The hampers were given out to families who applied or were suggested on Facebook, with families in need who applied first getting the hampers.

Preston said that they plan on continuing the event next year.