Local teen collects sun protection items for vulnerable communities

Ben Gaito, a 17-year-old resident of Rehoboth Beach, organized a successful donation drive during the month of July, collecting essential sun protection items for people in need.

This initiative aimed to raise awareness about skin cancer prevention and provide crucial resources to individuals experiencing homelessness, hunger and other challenging circumstances, who often lack access to basic sun safety necessities.

Gaito's motivation for the drive was deeply personal and aligned with his future aspirations, supporting his career goal of becoming an oncologist, a medical professional specializing in cancer treatment. "Cancer has directly impacted my family for the last eight years, and I want to do everything I can to help prevent others from experiencing what we have," Gaito said. "This drive is a small step, but I believe it can make a big difference in protecting our community's health and ultimately save lives."

A range of vital items collected includes sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, reusable water bottles, aloe vera skin moisturizer and sun-protective clothing. These donations directly benefited Shepherd's Office, a Georgetown nonprofit dedicated to assisting people who are homeless, hungry and in need.

"During these hot summers in southern Delaware, not everybody has access to the basic necessities to protect your body from the blasting radiation of the sun," Gaito said. "Protecting the skin and eyes should not be a privilege based on your living conditions or needs."

Community members both near and far responded generously, contributing both practical donations and financial support of $785.

The collected items have been delivered to Shepherd's Office Ministries, where they will provide much-needed protection to vulnerable individuals in the region. Jim Martin, Shepherd's Office director, expressed gratitude for Gaito's efforts, commending his hard work, team-building and generosity in making the drive a success.