Milo Hayes (288)

At Central High School, a green revolution is taking root as students work on a mission to fight food insecurity in Philadelphia. Through its innovative “CARE” program, which stands for Collect And Redistribute Excess, the Feeding Philly club is not only tackling food waste, it is now actively growing food to create a lasting impact on both the local community and the environment.

The core idea behind the CARE program is simple yet transformative because students collect uneaten packaged food from school meals that would otherwise be thrown away and redistribute it to community fridges for those in need. By providing this resource, the program addresses both food insecurity and the growing issue of food waste in the community.

Coach Lu is one of the driving forces behind Feeding Philly; she is the director of the organization and works as a Restorative Justice Coach throughout different schools in the Philadelphia School District. She comes to Central when Feeding Philly has a meeting and is a main facilitator and organizer of Feeding Philly’s activities, along with English teacher Ms. Peeples. Coach Lu explained that the organization centers food justice within the schools and uses youth action to dismantle food insecurity at its roots. She said, “The goal for CARE Fridges is to serve as resource stations for active minds and bodies; the name and acronym intentionally reflect the commitment to mutual aid.”

For many students involved, what begins as a way to fulfill community service hours quickly transforms into a deep understanding of the broader significance of the project. David Ghohestani (288) initially joined midway through this year for the service hours, but said, “I saw the importance of what we were doing. It’s to try and help out where we can.” He added, “It feels great to help everybody out. Even when it’s not a lot, I’m doing what I can.”

The daily work of maintaining the fridges involves cleaning, restocking, and ensuring food safety. Club member Sullivan Whipple (288) said, “A little bit goes a long way.”

While the fridges provide immediate relief, the program’s ultimate goal is not just charity but a sustainable model of mutual aid. Coach Lu emphasizes that the focus is on creating a system in which food is not just distributed, but also maintained and shared within the community. 

In addition to redistributing excess school food, the club is developing a high-tech greenhouse to grow fresh produce for redistribution. Feeding Philly’s next step in its sustainable food justice mission is the Central Greenhouse project, which is a cutting-edge hydroponic garden that will be located in a courtyard outside the school. The greenhouse will feature 3D-printed hydroponic towers powered by solar panels and will use nutrient-rich water to grow crops without soil. This method not only conserves water but also eliminates soil-borne pests, which makes it an ideal solution for sustainability.

Sullivan said, “I’m very excited for it… I think that the garden will supply more food and a lot more fresh food for the people that need it.”

The club’s ultimate vision is to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that combines the immediate relief of the CARE fridges with long-term, sustainable food production. 

Coach Lu said, “The hope for 2026 is fridges stocked with the first crops of leafy vegetables, like lettuces and herbs, alongside diverted breakfast bars.”

Feeding Philly is more than just a community service project; it is a movement that is cultivating a sustainable and equitable future. Through their hard work, Central students are learning vital lessons in sustainability and collective action. By combining the immediate relief of the CARE fridges with the long-term vision of the greenhouse, they are showing that even small efforts can lead to significant change.

As the project continues to grow, the Central community can support the initiative through volunteer efforts and spreading awareness. Feeding Philly is sowing the seeds for a brighter, more sustainable future, one meal and one garden at a time.