Felix, Joseph, Judith and Emily Guthrie. Photo by Jesse Bermensolo.
Three young neighbors are set to receive an award for their continued service to the Wilkinson Center.
The Guthrie siblings — Joseph, 16; Felix, 14; and Judith, 13 — are receiving the Kids Can Too! Award from the nonprofit April 4.
The Wilkinson Center helps families face challenges such as food insecurity, lack of education, economic instability, unemployment and underemployment. It offers free programs to help residents, especially in East and Southeast Dallas, Pleasant Grove and Arcadia Park, become self-sufficient. These services include GED, ESL, career development and computer and financial literacy classes.
Mother Emily Guthrie says her kids have been asking for items for the Wilkinson Center Food Pantry instead of birthday gifts since the oldest, Jospeh, was 5.
“I had heard about Wilkinson years before through work,” Emily says in an email to The Advocate. “So that first year I think I explained it to Joseph that he could ask friends to bring food for families who couldn’t go to the grocery store and buy what they wanted, but instead went to the food pantry to choose their groceries.”
The nonprofit will honor the Guthries at the Can Do! Luncheon, which is also commemorating its 40th anniversary.
Joseph is a sophomore at Woodrow, Felix is a first-year student at Townview TAG, and Judith is a seventh-grader at Mata Montessori.
Other awards being presented at the luncheon include the Can Do! Individual award, the Can Do! Organization award and the Can Do! Client award.
