Vancouver college student hands out care packages on Thanksgiving

Clark County — Elizabeth Koceja volunteered at a soup kitchen with her mother in San Diego a few years ago when they lived in California. They served meals to the homeless on Thanksgiving, and it was something that stuck with Koceja. After moving to Vancouver, Koceja got caught up in her own life, although she recently got that urge to help others again. She reached out to an organization about serving meals on Thanksgiving, but the organization was closed, so she decided to put together care packages with her partner to hand out to people in need. The couple purchased items such as toilet paper, gloves, tarps and water bottles, and others donated deodorant, socks, sleeping bags, blankets, toothbrushes, toothpaste and combs. The Knights of Columbus in Camas donated 24 new warm coats to pass out to those in need. Koceja is also a pre-med student.