Empowering the Next Generation of Food Heroes: Hormel's 10 Under 20 Changemakers

Hormel Foods Corporation has announced its third cohort of 10 Under 20 Food Heroes, a remarkable group of young individuals who are spearheading initiatives to create a more transparent, secure, and sustainable food system. These changemakers, hailing from diverse backgrounds across the United States, are inspiring the world with their unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on their local communities and the global landscape.

Transforming the Future of Food, One Hero at a Time

Aakash Suresh: Tackling Hunger on a Global Scale

Aakash Suresh, an 18-year-old from Miami, Florida, has been a driving force behind the Junior Advisory Board of Joshua's Heart Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to ending world hunger. As the vice chair and head of relations, Aakash has been instrumental in organizing food distributions that have provided over 5 million meals to families in need. His humanitarian efforts extend beyond the United States, as he has also helped establish a development school for children with physical and cognitive challenges in India, demonstrating his dedication to global community service.Bella Eberhart: Empowering Youth to Serve Their CommunitiesAt just 12 years old, Bella Eberhart from Wellington, Florida, has been giving back to her community since her first birthday through "Parties with a Purpose." This annual tradition has evolved to include her siblings and other holidays, with Bella taking the lead in coordinating these events to benefit local nonprofits. Recognizing the power of youth engagement, Bella also founded the first student-run community service club at her middle school, organizing a series of successful "serve together" opportunities, including a school-based food drive, sorting non-perishable items at the Palm Beach County Food Bank, gleaning fresh produce at a local farm, cooking for families at Quantum House, and a food distribution day with Restoration Bridge International. Bella's passion for service has led her to establish "B3 Powerful," a nonprofit that will connect youth and families with service opportunities in their communities.

Colin Chu: Empowering Youth to Combat Homelessness and Food Waste

Inspired by witnessing nutritious meals being discarded at his school, Colin Chu, a 16-year-old from Palo Alto, California, founded Homeless Heroes, a youth-led nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about homelessness, increasing food sustainability, and fostering an interconnected community. Colin's mission is to empower youth to engage in service work, inspiring the next generation to make a positive impact through meal packaging, food delivery, and direct interaction with the unhoused. To date, the team at Homeless Heroes has donated over 7,000 meals monthly to shelters and schools nationwide, delivered over 135,000 meals, and reached more than 3,500 unhoused individuals.

Elaina Johnson: Compassion in Action, One Meal at a Time

At just 10 years old, Elaina Johnson from Broomfield, Colorado, embodies the spirit of compassion and generosity through her dedicated efforts to combat hunger. Teaming up with her grandmother, Elaina has been sourcing and distributing food to those in need, starting with the unhoused in her hometown of Denver. As the city began receiving an influx of new refugees, Elaina organized an effort at her school to raise money and supplies in support of these newcomers, even spending her own allowance on essential supplies for the arriving families.

Emma Falkenmeyer: Eliminating Student Lunch Debt, One Meal at a Time

Emma Falkenmeyer, an 18-year-old from Sherrill, New York, established School Lunch Pals in 2023 to collect funds to eliminate student lunch debt at her high school, ensuring that no parent or student is made to shoulder this financial burden alone. With her local district qualifying for the universal student breakfast and lunch program Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), Emma's organization now provides funds for students who previously qualified for free or reduced lunch to buy additional items not covered by CEP. Emma's impactful work has earned her a Certificate of Merit from the New York State Assembly.

Lauren Schroeder: Cultivating a Bountiful Harvest for Those in Need

At the age of 14, while volunteering at a food shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lauren Schroeder, an 18-year-old from Dixon, Iowa, noticed a lack of fresh vegetables in the donated groceries. As a farm girl at heart, Lauren decided to address this gap by planting a half-acre of her family's farm with 15 different varieties of vegetables. In the past two years alone, she has donated over 7,000 pounds of homegrown produce to charitable causes, and she is aiming to bring that total to 20,000 pounds by the time she starts college in the fall of 2025.

Natalie Deitz: Nourishing the Body and Soul of Critically Ill Children

Natalie Deitz, a 13-year-old from Abingdon, Maryland, has a personal connection to the struggles faced by critically ill children. After having to overcome food anxiety due to a birth defect and attending a six-week inpatient feeding clinic, Natalie has developed a passion for helping others in similar situations. As a member of the all-youth board of advisors for We Cancerve, a nonprofit organization founded by 2020 Food Hero Grace Callwood, Natalie is committed to supporting kids who are fighting difficult circumstances. She has prepared and delivered supplemental food kits for 100 youth in her local school system, led a craft project for pediatric oncology patients with the Cool Kids Campaign, delivered toys to pediatric patients, and organized a shopping spree for homeless children.

Samantha Sandhaus: Ensuring Nutritional Access for All in Philadelphia

Samantha Sandhaus, an 18-year-old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is committed to addressing the issue of nutritional access for all. As a recent high school graduate from Central High School, she founded Feeding Philly as a sophomore, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that serves 2,000 families in North Philadelphia, engages over 4,500 student volunteers regionally, and repurposes more than 2,500 pounds of food. Under Samantha's leadership, Feeding Philly has significantly expanded, leveraging mutual aid programs and educational workshops to combat food waste and food insecurity within Philadelphia's schools and communities.

Skai and Will Nzeuton: Rescuing Food, Feeding the Hungry in New York City

Skai, an 18-year-old, and his brother, Will, a 16-year-old, both from New York City, New York, have made a significant impact through their efforts. Skai started the Food Security Club at Stuyvesant High School after witnessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and together with Will, they have expanded the reach of this club into a new organization, Food for All NYC. This organization works to redistribute fresh foods from schools, grocery stores, and delis to those in need across New York City. To date, Food for All NYC has rescued over 10,000 pounds of food, equating to 20,000 food items, and has developed an app that connects local organizations to streamline food rescue operations.

Steven Hoffen: Empowering Communities Through the Power of Hydroponics

Steven Hoffen, a 16-year-old from New York City, New York, has a mission to educate, empower, and help those in need through the power of hydroponics. He founded the nonprofit organization, Growing Peace Inc., which helps marginalized communities gain access to healthy produce through hydroponic gardening. Steven's passion for this cause was sparked during a visit to Israel, where he witnessed Arab and Jewish women collaborating on hydroponic gardening. He showcased their meaningful efforts in his award-winning documentary film, "Growing Peace in the Middle East," which highlights the healing power of food, even in the face of cultural differences. Growing Peace has installed numerous hydroponic gardening systems in communities in need to help alleviate food insecurity in his local area, including the Edgecombe Residential Treatment Facility and the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center.

Shreyaa and Esha Venkat: Sparking Global Change Through Kindness

Shreyaa, 21, and Esha, 18, are the founders of NEST4US, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to making the world a better place through kindness. Inspired by their childhood volunteer experiences with their family, Shreyaa and Esha started NEST4US to connect others with volunteer opportunities locally and globally. Under their leadership, NEST4US has mobilized over 7,500 volunteers, impacting communities in over 30 countries across six continents. Through one of their five programs, NEST Nurtures, they tackle global hunger, poverty, and food waste through feeding initiatives, food rescues, and hunger-based service projects.