WILMINGTON, N.C. — D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy seventh graders served a full taco bar to those in need on the River Walk.

Sixteen students filled tortillas with the works as part of their Coastal Horizon's Project Venture service project.

"We thought it was good to give back to the people who's in need, the people who don't have as much as we do," Tatiana Whitehead says. "So, we thought of coming out here and making people happy."

Project Venture is a youth development program that aims to improve social and emotional competence that facilitates resistance to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Organizers say part of that is getting students out of their comfort zone.

"You usually don't get these programs at school to do stuff especially like this — help feeding the homeless," Brandon Griffin says. "But, yes, this felt good. I really liked it. I know I'm going to do it again, for sure."

Chad Cox was one of the people taking advantage of this opportunity. He says groups periodically will come out and serve food, but he rarely sees the initiative run by students.

The seventh graders were happy to connect with their community in a way they hadn't before.