THE COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY AT ST. MARY'S MOHEGAN LAKE

I became aware of the issue of food insecurity during my Civic Engagement internship at a local food bank. Every week, I helped distribute food to families, and I started to notice familiar faces. At first, I expected to see people come only once or twice in times of emergency. Instead, I saw the same individuals returning week after week. It was humbling and eye-opening. I had always known that hunger existed, but seeing it up close in my own community made it real and ongoing rather than distant or temporary.  

This experience challenged my assumptions about who experiences hunger. The people I met were not defined by their circumstances; they were working parents, elderly individuals, and families doing their best to get by. It made me think more deeply about the ethical dimensions of hunger. Hunger is often treated as an individual problem, but my experience showed me that it is a systemic issue tied to wages, access to affordable food, healthcare, and  education. Ethically, this shifted my thinking from seeing hunger as something unfortunate to recognizing it as something unjust.  

At the same time, I was learning about food waste through my Girl Scout Gold Award project. I partnered with Second Chance Foods, an organization that collects surplus produce from grocery stores and distributes it to families in need. My role was to create simple, healthy recipes using the food in their Community Nutrition Boxes. I designed a website to host the recipes and translated each one into Spanish for families who spoke it as their first language. Through this work, I began to understand that addressing hunger is not just about providing food, but about providing access to nutritious, usable food in a way that respects cultural and language differences.

This project also introduced me to the connection between hunger and health. Many families receiving food assistance are at higher risk for diet-related illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, not because of poor choices, but because healthy food is often less accessible or more expensive. By creating recipes that were both nutritious and practical, I realized that addressing hunger must also mean addressing health inequities. It is not enough to provide calories; we must provide nourishment. This realization deepened my ethical understanding by highlighting that dignity and well-being should be central to any solution.  

Seeing both issues side by side, abundance and scarcity, was striking. Grocery stores and restaurants discard large amounts of perfectly good food, while families in the same community struggle to put meals on the table. This contrast made me reflect on the ethical responsibility of individuals, businesses, and society as a whole. If resources exist but are not shared efficiently, then hunger is not just a logistical problem, but a moral one.  

Having seen these gaps, I began to think about solutions that could bridge them. If I could develop a new initiative, it would be a digital platform that connects restaurants, grocery stores, and cafeterias with local food banks and community centers in real time.  Using data analytics, the platform would match surplus food with organizations that can use it immediately, minimizing waste and increasing access. Volunteers could use the app to pick up and deliver donations, while businesses could track their environmental impact and earn community service credits or sustainability certifications.  

What makes this idea necessary is efficiency and accessibility. Many people and companies want to help, but there is often no simple system that makes redistribution fast, local, and sustainable. Ethically, I believe we have a responsibility to remove barriers that prevent people from acting on their willingness to help. My platform would combine technology, logistics, and social awareness to make generosity more actionable and scalable.  

While my experiences have been local, they have also shaped how I think about hunger globally. Around the world, millions of people face food insecurity, often due to conflict,climate change, and economic inequality. At the same time, food waste is a global issue, with a significant percentage of food produced never being consumed. This parallel exists not just in my community, but worldwide. Understanding this has expanded my perspective and reinforced my belief that solutions must be both locally responsive and globally informed. 

Ultimately, my work has changed how I think about hunger on an ethical level. I no longer see it as an unavoidable reality, but as a problem that reflects choices about distribution, access, and priorities. Addressing hunger requires more than charity; it requires systems that promote fairness, health, and dignity. It requires us to ask not only how we can help, but why inequities exist in the first place.  

This experience taught me that solving global issues does not always require grand gestures; it requires thoughtful coordination, innovation, and compassion. Through a college education focused on business innovation and social impact, I hope to develop the tools to turn ideas like this into real solutions. I want to contribute to a future where fewer people face the uncertainty of hunger, and where systems are designed to ensure that available resources reach those who need them most.

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In a world where fast food and snack advertisements are constantly flooding our screens,promising us an abundance of cheap and convenient choices, it’s not surprising that many overlook and forget the millions of families out there that view even the smallest of meals as a luxury—a luxury that my family knows all too well. When my parents first moved from Jamaica in an attempt to escape poverty, all they could bring with them was hope and a little me into this world. We lived in a single-bedroom apartment at the time, and while these memories are quite fuzzy, I do recall both my father and mother oftentimes working overnight shifts, to ensure that both a roof remained over our heads and at least something was on our plates. Those early experiences never left me, and I believe it was for the better, as memories of struggle and sacrifice have evolved into a passion for commitment to service, where I hope to support other families the way mine always found a way to support me. 

My first real experience with combating the issue of hunger was at a soup kitchen event back in 6th grade, where I volunteered under the My Brother’s Keeper club of Mt. Vernon. At first, I was just excited to be a part of something that felt so important—an act of service for those within my community! But the one thing I couldn't seem to grasp about the situation was a quote my MBK mentor shared with us as we stood outside of the building: “Hunger wears many faces.” Foolishly, the younger me began to think how in the world could hunger be represented by a face, if it’s a feeling in your stomach, but I would soon understand what he meant as I began working inside. Every person whom I handed a plate to was different—some being the elderly, some being parents with children by their side, and even some teenagers who appeared to be not much older than me. And yet, despite all their differences, they all shared the same quiet look of gratitude behind every one of their expressions. That day, I realized how prevalent hunger truly is. It wasn’t just some unlucky curse that burdened my family for quite some time, it was a common issue that affects millions of people, all from different walks of life. It completely shifted my perspective; rather than viewing it as a misfortune, I instead saw it as a systematic issue—one that’ll require more than just my singular contributions, but the collective efforts of everyone within our communities.

Around a year ago, I was assigned a group project with a couple friends, with the task of research organizations focused on healthcare, starvation, and other humanitarian related issues. While conducting my research, nothing in particular caught my attention, until I came across an organization that frequently collaborated with my very own high school, the Tzu Chi Foundation. Tzu Chi is a global humanitarian organization that’s been rooted in service since its first appearance back in 1966. As the days went by I found myself more-and-more inspired by their work, from distributing hot meals to disaster survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, providing rice to drought-stricken villages in Africa, and even helping build sustainable farming programs in underserved regions. Their holistic approach has become a global wide effort that not only inspired millions of new volunteers, but also taught many like myself that hunger means more than just providing food—it’s about restoring dignity, addressing the root causes of this issue, and creating strong support systems that can one day allow those facing hunger, to thrive.

One final lesson hunger has taught me is never to be ashamed to ask for help. Growing up, I watched my parents humbly take what assistance they could receive—not because they were weak, but because they cared about our family and were willing to persevere. That humility, that weakness as strength, I clung to. I've learned requesting assistance is not a failure—it's an act of hope. And that's why I'm seeking to apply for the Community Food Pantry at St. Mary's Scholarship. I carry with me, as I embark on a study at New York University, not merely my experiences, but a commitment to turn them into purpose. The award would not only fund my studies, but allow me to carry on this cycle of service that has defined me from the very start.

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Every year in the spring Lakeland West Girl Scouts hold a food drive to benefit the pantry.  Over the weekend the troops, leaders and parents stand outside local supermarkets and request donations for the pantry.  Who can’t resist a friendly smile and a simple ask to help a neighbor. The drives are always so successful and always help restock the pantry shelves after the winter and holiday giving.  During COVID to our surprise, Lakeland West Girl Scouts reached out and planned a drive in the year of uncertainty and challenge.  No longer did the scouts stand at the doors of supermarkets, but for this unusual time they were at the door of seven homes that accepted donations from neighbors, family and friends. The scout leaders and parents came with several carloads of donated goods from their earnest and honest collection.   “A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency." (Girl Scout Manual 1947). That certainly holds true for our Lakeland Girl Scouts West.

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Last Saturday morning, computer in hand, I arrived at the pantry to begin distribution.  Standing at the table was a young man of seven accompanied by his parents.  In the young man's hands was a coffee container.  John, one of the pantry's core volunteers, introduced the family.  They had been former neighbors of John's.  Well to my surprise, Craig was here to donate money to the pantry.  Craig had helped a friend collect money in the neighborhood for his local football league.  Craig had learned at his religious instructions class how important it was to help those in need where ever you may find them.  Craig, on his own, put two and two together and decided to collect funds for the "poor".  Craig and two friends brought out two orange cones and placed them in their cul-de-sac and began stopping cars, asking for contributions.  Craig's mom looked out the window and saw the boys, wondering what were they doing?  She went out and discovered that in their cupped hands they had already collected change.  Craig's mom was amazed.  She supported their efforts, brought them inside to make a poster and gathered a collection can.  She then accompanied them outside and stayed with them as they continued to complete the task they had set before them.  Craig and friends collected $70.  Now where to donate?  Craig’s mom recognized John in a picture from the pantry website.  Here's the place.  Giving help to those in our community.  So that is how I got to meet this amazing young man last Saturday morning.

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Youths Helping Out

Our young friends Trevor (13) and Travis (12) created a different kind of advent calendar, one that had them add a donation of food to a box for each day of advent. Advent this year was 26 days. Trevor and his brother hand delivered the boxes of food to pantry.  This was Trevor’s creative way of meeting community service requirements for his upcoming Confirmation. The family so enjoyed the experience that they hope to make it a family tradition.  We are so grateful and we have so much hope for the future because of kids like Trevor and Travis. Thank you boys!

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For nearly two decades my mom has been receiving aid from The Community Food Pantry at Saint Mary's Church, ranging from food assistance, school materials, books, clothes, turkeys and toys during the holidays. The assistance we received from the Food Pantry at Saint Mary's church and its volunteers was an important part of our survival.

At a young age I was unaware to the full extent of the help hundreds of families including my own received from Saint Mary's Church, I did not fully appreciate the assistance we were receiving, therefore I didn't have the gratitude and appreciation towards them and my community. One memory that I had as a child was that every time I would accompany my mom to the food pantry there was a sense of warmth and compassion when interacting with the volunteers each Saturday. Through the efforts of the food pantry and its volunteers I gained a deeper understanding of the meaning of kindness and

· compassion. I am now able to provide similar assistance to the people and families in need through my community service.

In 2021 I made the decision to offer my assistance to the community by volunteering at The Community Food Pantry at Saint Mary's Church in Mohegan Lake. My objective is to facilitate positive change by fostering understanding and compassion towards my community as well having an impact on the lives of individuals and families in need. Now that I have the

opportunity to volunteer at the food pantry that has helped me and my family, I can now provide similar assistance to the people and families in need. Through my efforts, I have learned the essence of how I can contribute and impact a positive healthy environment. My awareness of community issues and challenges have helped me appreciate the value of community service.

My involvement in the community has come from my experiences and my understanding of the value it brings to individuals. I now see the significance of community service. Also through this growth I have become a role-model at Peekskill High School. My involvement in my local food pantry has compelled me to seek similar growth experiences ranging from clubs, sports, honor societies, and community service.

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The volunteers and the people we serve are so grateful to all those who have stepped up so that together we can.