2023 Food Heroes

Pennsylvania
Dancing Against Hunger

Seventeen-year-old Claire Chi founded Dancing Against Hunger in 2022 to fight food insecurity in schools by providing youth with accessible dance education and opportunities for social empowerment. Dancing Against Hunger organizes dance workshops so that young people can feel at home amid change, collecting thousands of dollars in donations for food banks through its events. The organization has already amassed over 900 participants and collected more than 2,300 donations for local food banks, distributing directly to schools and low-income families.

Alabama
Ethan’s Heart Bags4Blessing

Thirteen-year-old Ethan Hill founded Ethan’s Heart-Bags4Blessings in 2016. He used $100 of his Christmas money to purchase essential survival items, distributing them in multipurpose 5-gallon buckets to unhoused individuals living under a local freeway underpass. To date, he has distributed 3,900 care packages and survival kits. He continues to provide emergency food, drinks, shelter referrals, clothing, sleeping bags, first aid supplies and hygiene products to prevent malnutrition and health issues among people without housing.

Illinois
Khloe Kares Project

At age 8, Khloe Thompson began serving her community by distributing her homemade “kare bags” filled with essential toiletries to unhoused women. That was the beginning of the fifteen-year-old’s Khloe Kares Project. Since then, her mission has been to make the world a better place by showing her neighbors, especially those in difficult situations, that they are loved. The organization focuses on spreading awareness and improving the lives of unhoused women by providing tools for a successful transition into stable housing.

Maryland
Rise N Shine Foundation

Sixteen-year-old Shrusti Armula founded the Rise N Shine Foundation after identifying food waste as a contributor to global warming and climate change. She recognized the potential to use this fact in addressing hunger and homelessness. She started her composting program in a local school and witnessed the positive impact it had. Rise N Shine has now formed partnerships with local schools and multiple corporate sponsors. Currently, the organization runs composting programs in eight schools and has donated over 150,000 meals to those in need, with an additional 200,000 pounds of food waste diverted from landfills as a result of the organization’s efforts.

Tennessee
Vanilla Feeds Tomorrow

Seventeen-year-old William Cabaniss founded Vanilla Feeds Tomorrow to support the increased demand at food banks in his community. Inspired by a news report and concerned about food security during the COVID-19 pandemic, William decided to use his love of baking to raise money. He started making and selling his own vanilla extract, donating the proceeds to Second Harvest Food Bank to fight hunger in East Tennessee. Vanilla Feeds Tomorrow has donated over $200,000, which has provided more than 601,215 meals to local residents.

Michigan
Flint Kids Projects

When the Flint Water Crisis struck her hometown, fifteen-year-old Mari Copeny refused to remain silent. She fearlessly used her voice as a catalyst for change, not only for Flint, Mich., but also for communities across the nation grappling with similar issues of toxic water. Through her Flint Kids project, she has raised over $600,000 to support children in Flint, including distributing 17,000 backpacks filled with school supplies.

Michigan
Tiger Mushroom Farms

Te’Lario Watkins II founded Tiger Mushroom Farms when he was 7. Today, Tiger Mushroom Farms provides fresh shiitake and oyster mushrooms to his community through farmers markets, and you can even find his products on various restaurant menus. Since becoming involved with the local food scene, fifteen-year-old Te’Lario started a garden in his yard and donates the produce to local food banks. He is also a Hunger Hero with “No Kid Hungry” and hosts a friendsgiving every year to raise money and awareness to end hunger.

Washington, D.C.
Michaels Desserts

Seventeen-year-old Michael Platt had to give up a lot of his favorite activities after he was diagnosed with epilepsy, but he found another hobby that he loved — baking cupcakes. Michael turned his passion into Michaels Desserts. For every cupcake Michael sells, he donates one to someone who can’t afford a treat. Since beginning his business, he has helped thousands of people and continues to speak up about food insecurity. Using his platform, Michael works as an entrepreneur and justice advocate. He not only talks about food insecurity but also about Black history in America. He has published two books. His latest, “Recipes for Change,” is a journey through a year in Black history covering 12 important events and a recipe inspired by each.