04/21/2026
Spotlight: Team Sweetness
At Walter Payton High School in Chicago, a group of students known as Team Sweetness is showing what it means to step up and keep going.
When the school they had been supporting could no longer continue the program, seniors Thomas Fitchett and Lukas Cherian didn’t stop there. They found a new way forward. Partnering with another Blessings program, they took on feeding an even larger group of students one weekend each month.
That meant figuring out how to pack, store, and deliver 240 bags of food without access to vehicles. So they walk it. Every time. A 15-minute, five-block route right after the school day ends.
Because of their dedication, every child at their new school now has consistent access to food over the weekend. “Moments like these have taught me that service isn’t just a blessing to those in need, but also to me and everyone else involved,” said Lukas.
This is what Volunteer Appreciation Week is all about. Showing up, finding a way, and making an impact that reaches far beyond the moment.