Jessica Dunn is a good example that stereotypes about “kids these days” aren’t terribly accurate.

Dunn, a 17-year-old Port Colborne High School student, stepped up in a big way earlier this month when she volunteered to organize Central United Church’s third annual clothing boutique. The church began running the boutique to help provide clothing and coats for less fortunate people in the community. The person who usually organizes it was unable to this year, and bulletin postings looking for a fill-in went unanswered.

But, just before the church decided to cancel this year, Dunn came to the rescue.

“When no one came forward, she said, ‘mom, can I do this?’” mom Carrie said.

Taken aback she told her daughter of course she could, and Jessica went off planning the event.

The two have been attending the church since Jessica was eight. Both mom and daughter volunteer for a number of church and community-related events. Jessica helps out with things like the cookies for Christ, which provides services for the local retirement homes.

Though she had never organized an event like the clothing boutique before, she took full control and secured volunteers, sought donations of clothing, organized the bake sale that took place, and pulled off a very successful boutique that only left two racks of clothes when all was said and done.

By why take on such a task?

“Well, nobody volunteered and I saw it on the bulletin, so I thought, why not?” she said.

“People need clothes. They need help with Christmas presents.”

Dunn is considering getting into social work after high school, and said she just likes helping people.

“I think it’s pretty fun,” she said about organizing the event.

“There’s a lot of unfortunate people that really appreciated what she (Jessica) did,” said Carrie.

Dunn has already said she’d be more than willing to organize next year.