Nysmith Eighth Grader Helps Hungry Students

How did you and your family spend the first month of school? There’s so much to do—learning class expectations, establishing new routines, and coordinating schedules, lots of schedules. Among all of the September flurry, one highly-motivated student made time to fight teen hunger.

Meet Sarah-Noor Jamani, an eighth grader who lives in South Riding and attends Nysmith School. In 2021, Sarah-Noor learned about Northern Virginia’s pockets of significant food insecurity. Determined to make a positive impact at the local level, she researched area nonprofits, discovered Food For Neighbors, and fell in love with its mission of battling teen food insecurity. She raised funds to purchase $3,000 in food for schools to distribute to vulnerable middle and high school students before weekends, when some teens lack access to reliable sources of nutrition.

This is an amazing accomplishment for a young volunteer. What makes it even more amazing is that she did it again. This September, Sarah-Noor exceeded her 2021 accomplishment by raising $4,200 to help Food For Neighbors continue its mission!

"My family has always instilled in me from an early age a strong ethic of service,” shared Sarah-Noor. “Through helping others and giving back, I have discovered that the more we give away, the more we discover in our own lives that we are blessed and fortunate to be a part of such a great community. I have really enjoyed partnering with Food For Neighbors and hope to continue my service for years to come."

Sarah-Noor, her parents Nurali and Yasmin, and her little sister Sabrina understand that the pandemic and rising food costs have made it even more difficult for families to put food on their tables. In Fairfax County, where Food For Neighbors began, approximately 31 percent of FCPS students, nearly one in three, qualified for free and reduced-price meals as of October 31, 2021 (“Free and Reduced-Price Meals.” FCPS, https://www.fcps.edu/frm).

Food For Neighbors makes a point of reaching these students by partnering with schools, where social workers and other staff can identify students in need, build relationships with them, and easily connect them with the nonprofit’s reliable, nutritious resources. Removing the obstacle of hunger adds immensely to the quality of life of these young people, who then have the opportunity to focus on their education. With less pressure to work long hours to provide for themselves and/or their families, students can remain in school. While there, they are also better able to stay focused, as hunger is not interfering with higher thinking. Longer term, being better students helps them become successful members of the community, which lifts up everyone.

“Sarah-Noor and her family continue to amaze me with their steadfast support of our mission,” shared Karen Joseph, Founder and Executive Director of Food For Neighbors. “I can’t thank them enough for their generosity and community spirit. Their efforts are helping us serve approximately 3,400 students in 34 participating schools.”

Food For Neighbors thanks the Jamani family and welcomes all who wish to serve. At this time, the nonprofit has 2,000 households committed to provide food and over 1,600 volunteers registered to collect and sort it. More donations and volunteers are needed as the nonprofit continues to expand throughout Northern Virginia. To donate food, volunteer hands-on help, or make a financial gift, please visit https://www.foodforneighbors.org/get-involved/.