Belle Glade teens are trying to improve their community by encouraging people to vote and participate in the census through a drive-thru.

“We’re out here trying to get the residents of belle glade to register to vote, participate in the census, and grab a hygiene kit,” said Nishah Jaferi, a 17-year-old who helped organize the drive-thru.

The teens are part of Philanthropy Tank.

“It’s an organization that works with teens that have an idea to create a solution to problems that are facing palm beach county. The kids can apply to get money to fund their program,” said CEO Amy Brand.

Why are they so focused on giving back to Belle Glade?

“For me, it comes down to a basic sense of empathy and being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, know what they’re going through, understand their struggling, and do something about it,” said 17-year-old Jonathan Beres.

“We’ve lived in Belle Glade, this tri-city area our whole lives. So when we look around and we see the star is here and what we don’t have and what we do have, it makes a kind of hunger for us to go get it for our people, not just for us,” said 17-year-old Iyunni Phillips.

Their drive-through had free food, people helping with census and voters registration, and hygiene kits that included things to keep people safe from COVID-19.

“We ultimately want to raise our city’s voices as we enter this political climate,” said Jaferi.

“If you complete your census, you have a better community, you have more resources, more of everything we need, more everything in your community,” said 17-year-old Annajiah Graham.

Philanthropy Tank’s CEO hopes today’s drive can inspire other Palm Beach County kids to find ways to help their communities.

“Our tag line is empowering change makers and it’s all about letting kids know, letting teens know, they have the power to effect change,” said Brand.