While most children eagerly count down the days until summer, the season is not quite so care-free for everybody. Many families rely on school-provided meals to get their daily nutritional needs, but with schools closed, parents are left scrambling to provide, and far too many children are left hungry.
Open Doors, a housing and homeless services organization in Norwalk, CT, has recently seen a large demand at its food pantry and meal programs.
“We’ve had families come in with seven or eight kids,” said Chef Ms. Terano Higgs, Open Doors’ Food Programs Manager. “All of them deserve to eat. No child should ever have to go to sleep on an empty stomach.”
Despite Fairfield County’s reputation for wealth, food insecurity remains a pressing issue– one that is often overlooked. However, the young but powerful leaders of Feeding 500, an exclusively high-school student-run non-profit, have taken the issue head-on through their partnership with OpenDoors. The organization comprises 7 chapters across Connecticut and is dedicated to alleviating food insecurity through fundraising, food drives, and local events.
To take initiative, the executive leaders from each chapter attended the annual four-day internship program hosted at OpenDoors. Student interns were immersed in the realities of homelessness. Working directly with OpenDoors, they helped serve in the pantry and kitchen, toured facilities, and strategized for the upcoming months.
Erin McDonough, Director of Community Supports at Open Doors, reflected on the week.
“This summer’s Feeding 500 internship program was an incredible opportunity for the Open Doors staff and Feeding 500 leadership team to work together on ways to help close the hunger gap in our community,” McDonough said. “The team at Open Doors is so thankful for these incredible young leaders who are dedicating their time and talents to help provide food for our neighbors, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work together throughout the school year.”
Feeding 500 not only helps those in need but also empowers our youth to lead. This level of responsibility is not one commonly seen in high schoolers, but it’s a unique and extremely beneficial opportunity for the students.
“This was my second year with the internship, but every time I go to Open Doors, I learn something new and gain a deeper appreciation for the power of student contributions,” said Miller Fishback, Greenwich Chapter Co-President. “I’m excited for the year ahead and to see how we can continue supporting a community that needs us now more than ever,” said Fishback, GHS class of 2026.
With compassion and community at their core, the students of Feeding 500 are proving that age is not a barrier to impact. One meal, one food drive, one member at a time, they’re making a lasting difference in the battle against food insecurity.
Want to get involved?
Follow @feeding500_darien on Instagram and sign up through the link in the bio! There will be monthly food drives and events for volunteer opportunities, and there’s always demand for dedicated underclassmen who are looking to step into a future leadership role.