Projects 

I started Porch 2 Pantries because I wanted to make it simple for my neighbors (and myself!) to fight hunger in our community. The idea is easy: I drop off a reusable bag with a list of healthy, individually wrapped snacks. A week later, I come back to pick it up, and all those donations go straight into the snack baskets we deliver to food pantries and nonprofits through Munch with Mal.

For me, it’s about helping kids who don’t always have access to nutritious food and creating a system where anyone can contribute in a small but consistent way. Every snack makes a difference—and it adds up fast when we all pitch in.

If you want to get involved, I’d love your help!

Email me: thedancingbakerpa@gmail.com

I started Munch w Mal because I kept seeing the same problem over and over again: kids and families don’t always have access to simple, healthy snacks. I’m talking about the kind of food you can eat right away without needing a fridge, stove, or even a kitchen. For people living in transitional housing, experiencing homelessness, or relying on food pantries, that kind of snack can make a huge difference.

Through Munch w Mal, I collect and deliver those kinds of foods: things that are allergy-friendly, lower in sugar, and actually filling. Not just the super-processed stuff you usually see in emergency food bags. I manage the whole process myself, whether it’s picking up donations through Porch 2 Pantries, ordering from my Amazon list with the help of community donations, or packing and delivering baskets by hand.

So far, I’ve partnered with more than 15 food pantries and nonprofits across Pennsylvania, and each one reinforces why this work matters. A granola bar or pack of trail mix might seem small, but to the kid who gets it, it can mean focus in class or energy to get through the day. To me, it’s about dignity too, and giving families choices and options, not just whatever’s left on the shelf.

This project has taught me that even as a high school student, I can help close the nutrition gap in my own community. And the best part? When neighbors, friends, and supporters pitch in, those small efforts add up into something much bigger.

When I first started volunteering at food pantries, I noticed something: a lot of the food being given out needed a kitchen. Cans, pasta, rice… all important, but not always helpful if you don’t have a fridge, a stove, or even a place to store it. That gap stuck with me. So I launched Cool w Mal, a community fridge project designed to give people ready-to-eat, nutritious food they can grab immediately.

Right now, the fridge lives at Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard (UMACC). With help from partnerships like Trader Joe’s, I keep it stocked with healthy, pre-packaged meals and snacks. I also add drinks like Gatorade for hydration, which is one of the most requested items. Every time I restock, I decorate the fridge with “Self-Care: You Matter” magnets. It’s a small gesture, but I want everyone who opens that door to feel seen, valued, and reminded they deserve care.

This project is one of my favorite parts of The Dancing Baker PA because it’s so immediate. You fill the fridge, and within hours, the food is gone. It shows just how urgent the need really is. The fridge is always in need of donations, especially ready-made meals, packaged healthy snacks, and drinks. If you’re a restaurant, grocery store, or just someone who wants to help, those contributions go directly to people who need them most.

For me, Cool w Mal is about more than food... it’s about access, dignity, and community!

One of the biggest things I’ve learned through food equity work is that sometimes the food pantries do have enough to share, it’s just not always the easiest to cook with. That’s what inspired Recipes w Mal. I wanted to create simple, healthy recipes using the kinds of pantry items people already receive, so nothing goes to waste and families can still enjoy meals that feel nourishing and fun.

A lot of what I make comes from donated basics, like turning canned garbanzo beans into hummus or even fudge brownies, or baking overripe bananas into gluten-free muffins instead of letting them get tossed. My recipes focus on allergy-friendly, low-cost options that can be made with just a few ingredients and minimal kitchen tools. The goal is to make cooking approachable and doable for anyone, no matter what their situation looks like.

I regularly drop off printed recipe cards to local food pantries like Seeds of Hope and UMACC so families can try them out right away. And if you’d like more, you can always request my full recipe book by emailing me at thedancingbakerpa@gmail.com.

At the end of the day, Recipes w Mal is about showing that with a little creativity, even the most basic ingredients can become something delicious, comforting, and good for you.