The name Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church might ring a bell in Catasauqua because of the many ways the church has partnered with community leaders and neighbors, both before and after the COVID-19 crisis. But, in all that time, what has Holy Trinity’s youth group been up to? Sadly, the group’s annual springtime events were canceled.

The 30-hour famine, when the youth do not eat for 30 hours to raise funds to fight hunger, has been postponed indefinitely. The free community egg hunt, which is usually held Easter Saturday, was canceled, but the eggs filled with candy and other goodies were distributed at one of Holy Trinity’s weekly community food giveaways. The junior Victorian tea and basket raffle, where the youth serve up fun activities as well as delicious finger foods and beverages, will not be held until the Sunday after Mother’s Day 2021.

However, many of the bingo prizes that were already purchased for the 2020 event found their way into sunshine bags, a project sponsored by Rebecca Zukowski-Gillespie, the owner of Blondies, 333 Front St., Catasauqua.

On another topic, Yemen is a small country on the southern border of Saudi Arabia, the fourth richest country in the Middle East. By contrast, Yemen is the poorest of the 14 Middle East countries.

Youth leader Diane Czar’s research into Yemen was prompted by a recent late-night text from one of the youth: “Do you know what’s going on in Yemen right now? Is there anyway we can donate?” So a text went out to the 11 Holy Trinity youth, and their response was to dip into their dwindling checking account to donate $150 to World Vision and $100 to Doctors Without Borders.

In a time when Holy Trinity’s focus has, rightfully, been on pouring the church’s resources into the Catasauqua community, youth are choosing to love beyond our walls to those whose financial and health struggles make our own first-world issues pale by comparison. About 24 million people in Yemen need aid; that’s 80 percent of the country’s population. More than half of the people in need are children.

World Vision’s work in 2020 will include the rehabilitation of community water systems and activities in health, livelihoods and child protection. Doctors Without Borders is an independent, global movement providing medical aid where it’s needed most, and they are doing critical work in Yemen.