Ashland’s FriendCats Are Making a Difference
Lisa Patrick
The Ashland Beacon
Who are the FriendCats, you ask? Well, they’re not your average group of teenagers! Meet Carter Anderson, Luke Matthies, and Drew Matthies—three 15-year-old Ashland Blazer freshmen with a mission to make a difference. These football buddies and church pals have decided to take a page from their older mentors' playbook, stepping up to create positive change in their community. Ready to see how these teens are tackling the world of service? Keep reading!
Carter Anderson’s parents are close friends and business partners with David and Leigh Latherow. When the Latherows’ children, Jack and Emma, were in high school, they created a service group called “Twincats for a Cause,” which completed several community and school projects. Some of their initiatives included collecting donations of backpacks and school supplies for the resource center and gathering costumes for Safe Harbor. Carter explains, “We wanted to continue that same type of program while we're in high school. Giving back to the community is important to my family,” and the three boys “hope to make a positive impact over the next four years.”
Carter partnered with Luke and Drew Matthies because he “felt like the three of us together could make a bigger impact.” He continued, “We knew our parents would be supportive, and they’d help guide us along the way.”
The FriendCats’ first big project was in honor of World Literacy Day. They wanted to share the work of a local Eastern Kentucky author and teacher with students in their own school district. The boys donated copies of A Penny’s Worth of Character by Jesse Stuart to all the third graders at Crabbe Elementary. Carter explained, “We chose this book because of the valuable lesson about honesty and the importance of character.”
For Thanksgiving, the FriendCats turned their attention to Ashland Middle School, where they donated food baskets to students in need. “We really enjoyed getting our feet wet with those first two projects,” Carter said. “But now we have a bigger goal, and we’re excited to involve the community with what we're doing next.”
That next big project? Easter baskets for the children living at Safe Harbor. The FriendCats are aiming to donate 50 Easter baskets filled with goodies and fun surprises. They’re collecting items like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, stickers, bracelets, candy, and other small treats that could brighten a child's day. They’re also accepting monetary donations. Contributions can be dropped off at the Ashland Blazer Youth Services Center, the Ashland Boyd County Health Department administration building, or 1673 Elliott Avenue.
Looking ahead, the FriendCats plan to continue their community service projects throughout their high school years. Carter said, “We want to continue to identify and meet needs in our local community, through acts of service and faith.” Some projects will be smaller and manageable, just like their first ones, but for larger initiatives—like the Easter basket drive—they will ask the community for support. “It’s all about getting everyone involved and making a difference together,” said Luke.
As the FriendCats look to the future, their enthusiasm and commitment to helping others shines through. Whether it’s giving out books, donating food, or bringing smiles to children’s faces this Easter, these three teens are proving that even small acts of kindness can make a big impact.
So, next time you see the FriendCats out and about, know that they’re not just hanging out—they’re changing the world, one service project at a time!
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