Building a Brighter Future: Books, Sustainability, and Community

This past school year has been incredibly rewarding as I had the opportunity to make an impact in two areas I’m passionate about: education and sustainability.

At the start of the year, I founded the Girls Rising club at my school. Together, we organized a book drive with the goal of enhancing the library resources at Davenport Elementary School. Little did I know, the drive would exceed all expectations. With help from fellow students and the community, we managed to categorize and donate over 6,000 books! Seeing the shelves at Davenport fill up with new books, knowing students would have access to a wider range of learning materials, made all the hard work worth it.

Alongside this initiative, I also started to volunteer with the "Fridge on 40th", the first Solar Community Fridge project, in West Philadelphia. Working with students from the University of Pennsylvania, I helped spearhead the first solar-powered community fridge initiative in our area through targeted outreach and building strong relationships with local food partners. Our goal is to have this solar fridge to have a sustainable way for community members to donate and access fresh food, while also reducing our carbon footprint. We are hoping to have this fully launch in 2025!

Both projects have taught me that creating change isn’t just about big ideas—it’s about collaboration and dedication. Whether it’s donating books or food, I’ve learned that every small action can contribute to a much bigger impact.