2009 STOP Hunger Scholarship recipients
STOP Hunger Scholarships, a program of the Sodexo Foundation, recognizes the following students who are active in the fight against hunger and poverty in the United States
Rewarding involvement.
In 2007, the Sodexo Foundation announced a new program to recognize students who are active in the fight against hunger and poverty in the United States. Now in the third year, five students have been recognized as STOP Hunger Scholars for demonstrating an exemplary spirit of service. View 2009 STOP Hunger Scholars in Action.
Amy Carlton - Lake Oswego, Ore.
Junior - Lake Oswego High School
The fact that 12.6 million children in the U.S. do not have a steady supply of food inspired then fifteen-year-old Amy to create Teens Fighting Hunger. In just two years, this nonprofit organization has raised enough money to feed 56,000 children - by selling hand-made creative products priced under $20, raising $35,000. Amy continues to teach teens and younger students how to make products and sell them at Saturday markets, building a lasting legacy and helping to fight hunger for years to come.
Daniel Feldman - Linwood, N.J.
Senior - Mainland Regional High School
Interested in baking from an early age, Daniel quickly turned that interest into helping less fortunate youth by founding the organization Kids Feeding Kids. The program focuses on using fundraising and education to raise awareness of childhood hunger in America. Daniel organizes bake sales, as part of the Great American Bake Sale, raising $50,000 over the last four years. Since 2000, Daniel has coordinated bi-monthly food drives, collecting hundreds of pounds of food for his local area food bank. View the News Channel 8 interview of Daniel Feldman.
Kellie Kinsella - Palatine, Ill.
Freshman - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Sitting in church in the summer of 2007, Kellie opened the weekly bulletin and read that the local food pantry was out of food. Motivated by the knowledge that 500 people were without food, Kellie created the Youth Hunger Opposition in Palatine (YHOP). YHOP's goals are to use the energy and determination of youth to eliminate hunger within the Palatine Township. Through Kellie's leadership, hundreds of students from two local high schools and fourteen surrounding area churches are now part of the effort; organizing bake sales, open gym night and even the “YHOP Sock Hop.” These projects helped Kellie reach her first milestone - raising $100,000 to help fight hunger.
Andrew Schultze - Kettering, Ohio
Senior - Kettering Fairmont High School
A trip to serve meals to the homeless with his church youth group was a life-changing event for Andrew. Once a month since 2003, he leads a group of teen and adult volunteers who prepare and serve breakfast to approximately 250 men, women and children at the St. Vincent Hotel for the homeless. His work has added up to over 16,500 meals; or 35,640 scrambled eggs, 33,000 pieces of bacon, ham or sausage, 16,500 servings of potatoes and 330 gallons of fresh fruit. Andrew helps make the issue of hunger a personal one each year through his 'Feed 5,000' effort - recruiting dozens of teens to fast for 30 hours raising awareness of hunger and collecting food donations for 5,000 meals for local food pantries.
Steven 'Rusty' Stargensky - Waterford, N.Y.
Senior - Hudson Valley Community College
Since 2003, Steven volunteered more than 10 hours every week at Joseph's House and Shelter, an emergency homeless shelter in Troy, N.Y. that serves close to 1,000 men, women and children annually. Steven spends many hours in the kitchen and then shares his experiences with family and friends - recruiting them as volunteers. Steven also takes chronically homelesss adults shopping once a week, using the opportunity to educate them and encourage better nutritional choices. He also purchases and prepares a Sunday dinner once a month, demonstrating that good nutrition can be good tasting as well.
