When student Anna Villines saw a janitor pull an orange out of the trash, something inside her shifted. She realized how much food was being wasted every single day at school.
“It struck me that people were hungry in our own school, and here we were throwing away food that could be used,” she said.
Anna decided to talk to the principal about donating untouched food to a local pantry, but she was told it wasn’t possible because of health regulations and federal lunch program rules. Most people might have stopped there, but Anna didn’t.
She read about a school in Africa that had set up a community refrigerator, where students could place uneaten food for others to take. That idea stuck with her.
Soon, her school purchased a refrigerator. Every day, students began placing their unopened fruit, milk, and packaged snacks inside instead of throwing them away. By the end of most days, the fridge was empty, filled with proof that kindness truly feeds others.
“I feel comfort knowing that students in need are able to grab food on the go and nothing gets wasted,” Anna said with a smile.
Stories like this remind us that compassion and creativity can solve real problems. You never truly know who might be hungry sitting right next to you. Imagine how our world could change if we all focused on serving one another instead of competing.
Our youth deserve a life filled with meaning, and stories like Anna’s show us that hope still lives among us. It’s not too late to make a difference.
Credit: Original owner (respect)