“Golden Rule: Youth volunteers making a difference” published in AzCentral

Golden Rule: Youth volunteers making a difference

Albert Celoza, Ph.D.

Special for The Republic

One Saturday this April, three dedicated youth volunteers responded to my call for an interview—Veer Mayo, Jacob Gronner, and Jacob Denlinger. They joined a group of adult volunteers in the Arizona Langar on Wheels (ALoW) weekly food distribution for unhoused individuals. Each brought unique perspectives to the volunteer service.

Veer Mayo founded the Arizona Langar on Wheels Teen Board to make a difference in the community. Under his leadership, he organized a board of teenagers. Mayo’s vision beyond food service is to increase meal donations and partner with nonprofit organizations to offer health services to distribution clients.

Jacob Gronner joined the teen board through Veer’s invitation. He recognized an opportunity to gain fundraising and project management experience. Gronner emphasizes youth-driven insights and long-term sustainability for the organization, having previously helped organize Gratitude and Unity Gatherings in other Valley communities.

Jacob Denlinger represents school-led service through his work at Brophy College Preparatory, where he has helped organize large-scale student service efforts involving students across multiple community partner agencies. His approach illustrates how institutional service builds camaraderie and engagement across diverse volunteer sites.

All three volunteers ground their service in deep spiritual and ethical convictions. Veer draws inspiration from Sikh seva—the practice of selfless service—which aligns perfectly with the Golden Rule of treating others as you would like to be treated. For Gronner, generosity represents an instinctive social impulse. He has witnessed people at distributions sharing their own meals with others who appeared to need them more. He views these Saturday gatherings as moments to step back from life’s complexities and focus on caring for one another.

Denlinger invokes Gandhi’s wisdom: ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,’ suggesting that service provides a pathway to self-discovery and fulfillment. For all three, the Golden Rule serves as a guiding moral principle that validates treating recipients with dignity and respect, whether through religious conviction, observed human generosity, or camaraderie and solidarity. Their goals involve cultivating a culture of compassionate action and social justice. Together, they demonstrate how service projects successfully combine organization, ethical conviction, and personal growth—training young people in valuable skills and leadership while grounding all actions in compassion and respect for those whom they serve.

All three youth volunteers are high academic achievers. Mayo is a junior in Rancho Solano’s International Baccalaureate Diploma program. He hopes to attend college for business and winemaking (his side passion) and to be an entrepreneur in the industry. Gronner is also a junior at Rancho Solano. He plans to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics with a minor in Anthropology before attending law school. Denlinger is graduating this year from Brophy College Preparatory, where his involvement reflects the commitment to forming students dedicated to lifelong work for ‘others’ beyond educational institutions.

Thanks to my friend Suminder Singh Sodhi and other leaders in the Sikh and interfaith community, whose mentorship and example have guided youth volunteers. The work of intergenerational cooperation fosters hope for sustained collaboration. Everyone has served as an inspiration; more importantly, they sustain hope for the future.

For students interested in learning about the Arizona Langar on Wheels Teen Board, please contact me at azifm.org.

Albert Celoza, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the Arizona Interfaith Movement.

PS An FYI from Albert: While writing my May article, I referenced notes from a previous interview when I volunteered for AZ Langar on Wheels
I take copious notes during interviews. I had to cut some noteworthy points due to space and thematic limitations.Quotes from homeless individuals I spoke to referring to the Arizona Langar on Wheels: “They are here as we are here.” “They have not missed a Saturday.” “Every Saturday they are here faithfully.” “They feed so many.” “They’re patient, loyal and loving.” “They don’t say anything.”
I also found out that some of the homeless individuals traveled all the way from Tucson to Phoenix