We wanted to give this Christmas season, and we could find no better way to do that than to partner with Operation Breakfast and Blankets, an organization run by our 16-year-old patient, Chance Palm-Rittle. His organization collects breakfast items and blankets for Berks County homeless veterans and kids in need, and he has been doing this since 2018 when he was only 8-years-old! Read our interview with him below to learn more about his organization and this amazing young man.
Tell us about yourself:
I am 16-years-old, and a junior at Tulpehocken Area High School. I am involved in multiple clubs at school, and I also play soccer and tennis at school. After high school, I plan on applying to the US Coast Guard Academy to study cyber systems. If I don’t get accepted to the Coast Guard Academy, I plan to go to college to study computer science, before applying to the Pennsylvania State Police.
What led you to want to begin this organization as an 8-year-old boy?
It started when I went to the Opportunity House during the holiday season to cook a meal with my family. I went upstairs to the women and children and saw kids younger than me, or the same age as me, all living in a room not much bigger than my own living room. It broke my heart. That’s why I wrote a letter to Santa and asked him to bring food and clothes. “Santa” wrote back and told me that I could do things on my own, and so Operation Breakfast and Blankets was born.
How did you learn the power and effectiveness of giving at such a young age?
People don’t understand how easy it is to give back and to just be kind to another person. Many think that it’s something hard that isn’t possible for them. In reality, it’s giving a box of cereal or volunteering at a homeless shelter. Now, it’s not easy for everybody to do something like the operation, but that’s not the only way to help. Seeing how effective we can be has made a big impact on my life. I’ve also been influenced by how I’ve been raised, learning both the importance of helping people and treating them well.
What was involved in setting up an organization like this?
Originally, it was really just posting on Facebook, emailing opportunity houses, and then collecting cereal from people’s porches. But now it takes a good bit of energy to start a collection. We have to email collection locations and organizations to let everyone know what’s happening and to make sure we have permission. On top of that, we have to consistently make posts on social media to keep everyone updated, drop off and collect boxes to collection sites, make posters, update our website, package and deliver what is collected to the organizations who distribute to the veterans and kids, and so much more.
How did you choose the donation items and the population you wanted to serve?
The donation items were chosen originally by my parents, as they called Opportunity House and asked them what was most needed to be sure we weren’t collecting what wasn’t really helpful. They were told cereal because Opportunity House serves breakfast and they go through a lot of cereal. Also, they help families that aren’t homeless, but for whom food and cereal is a needed item. Through the years we have morphed as to what we collect depending on the situation and the time of year, while still staying consistent with cereal and blankets. Kids and veterans top my list of those to help, because I am a kid and my dad is a veteran, and I just don’t think any kid or veteran should be homeless or not have food to eat.
How many hours a week would you say you put into this organization during the holidays or otherwise?
I’m not sure exactly how many hours. It also depends on the week and what time of the year it is. If it’s during a collection and a busy week, I could easily spend 10-15 hours on it. If it’s not a busy week, maybe 3 hours.
Describe the past successes you have had as an organization and how you have personally seen it impact lives:
I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to achieve. I would say the biggest success we’ve had was a couple years ago during Covid where we got creative. The local library was closed to the public, so the community was asked to donate cereal by depositing it in the book return slot. The library became our overall collection space, which was good because we had 1,500 boxes that year. It’s great to have lots of cereal and blankets collected, but even that first year when we had less, it was amazing to see people just be kind. Every year is a success, because we consistently are able to collect hundreds of food items and blankets, and we are able to help the people we want to help.
How has this organization personally impacted/changed you?
The operation has helped me grow in skills like organizing tasks and public speaking. Most of all, it has taught me that everyone, even kids, can help others.
Do you have others who help you run or manage the organization, or who work alongside you to help?
Yes, my neighbor, Bella Woll, has been a big part of the operation for 3 years now. Her mom, Ruthann Woll, also does a lot to guide us. My mom has done a lot to help since the beginning, to support, guide, and teach me.
How do you typically get the word out about your organization?
Social media is the biggest way we spread the word with our Facebook and Instagram accounts. Also, organizations we work with help to spread the word (like Boulevard Dental). We would love for everyone to spread the word!
Can people donate all year long, or only over the holidays?
Typically, we have collections during Christmas, in April for Child Abuse Prevention month, and in July/August for Christmas in July. But we stay connected to all the organizations we work with, so when they have a need we try to help. Anything donated, no matter the time of year, will find its way to one of the organizations we help.
Do you collect only new blankets, and do you only collect cereal boxes, or other types of non-perishable cereal/breakfast food?
If possible, we would like new blankets, but we will accept anything that is in decent condition. The goal is to help anyone in need and that means not to be too picky, however, we also have to have a standard so we aren’t giving people things that are unfit for use. No, we do not only collect boxes of cereal, but generally try to stick to breakfast items like pancake mixes, syrup, peanut butter, breakfast bars, and oatmeal. The important thing is not what is donated, but that something is donated.
How do you distribute the cereal and blankets, and what is that process like?
We have collection locations (like Boulevard Dental) who are normally organizations and businesses that are kind enough to have boxes where people can drop off donations for us. Then whenever a collection location has a full box, or when the collection process has come to an end, we will pick up the collection boxes. Then we will package the donations into boxes, contact the organizations we help, figure out a time to drop everything off, and then we drive and drop off the donations we received to the organizations. This is one of the best parts because we get to connect directly with the organizations and often the people they help, so we see firsthand how it matters.
Do you partner with other organizations and businesses, and if so, in what way?
Yes, every year organizations and businesses offer their help to be collection sites where people can drop off donations to them. Last year, Unique Pretzels was amazing as they asked all their employees to donate, and for the last two Christmas in July collections, Camp Cadet Troop L staff and families have been amazing partners.
Do you see yourself continuing this organization after you graduate if possible?
I would like to, but I also think that the goal isn’t to keep the operation going as much as to help other people, and so that adults and kids can understand they can make a difference, and that they too can have their own operation, whether big or small.
We are so proud to have Chance as a patient of Boulevard Dental! He truly understands that it is more blessed to give than to receive this Christmas season and beyond. Would you consider donating to his organization through the collection boxes at Boulevard Dental? We will be collecting breakfast items and blankets until December 19th. In doing so, you will be supporting a wonderful, local cause, and also a remarkable young man!