SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - A Springfield resident committed to helping those in need is doing so in a big way this weekend. A collaboration with a local homeless shelter and other organizations to make sure our neighbors are well cared for.

20-year-old Noah Galas is in the Army National Guard and works at the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office.

On top of it all, he is a Senior Explorer with the Follow My Steps Foundation, a Springfield-based non-profit providing youth in under-resourced communities the opportunity to learn from others of diverse backgrounds to develop career skills. He is a model citizen, looking to make a positive difference for those who need it. That includes the homeless community, “I just wanted to do something to give back to the community, inspire others, and make sure that people in need feel safe and comfortable and know that there are others that care about them and are thinking about them and want to help,” Galas said.

This weekend, he will be able to do just that, through lots of collaboration with several groups, including the Basketball Hall of Fame and the American Red Cross, Galas has created the first “No One Eats Alone.”

The event is at Friends of the Homeless in Springfield and will have volunteers and staff handing out food and essential items to those experiencing homelessness in the Greater Springfield area.

“We’re an organization that tries to provide daily meals (and) tries to provide whatever hygiene supplies we can, but we’re not funded to do that. We rely on donations, so when someone wants to reach out and help us, of course we’re thrilled,” said Friends of the Homeless Vice President of Marketing and Clinical Development Geoffrey Oldmixon said.

Among what is being distributed, approximately 200 sandwiches, 200 bottles of water, juice, and snacks. There will also be around 200 backpacks to hand out as well — inside them, hygiene supplies.

Galas dropped off most of the bags Friday morning and helped bring them inside Friends of the Homeless, a sight much to the delight of Oldmixon, “these are essentials. These are what we all take for granted at times, so it’s kind of nice to make sure that they have it without wondering who we are going to get it from. It goes a long way.”

Saturday’s effort will also have the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office Therapy Dog Team on site to support and engage with community members. As everything falls into place, Galas said his work is not done by a long shot, “this is my first community event, but I definitely plan on coming up with a lot more events and making it better and more of an impact.”

Galas hoped his event makes a lasting impact on those at the shelter. No One Eats Alone is set to begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning with volunteers coming to prep just in time for the lunch rush.

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