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Can And Can’t I see Matzoh Balls, Schnitzel, Sufganiyot The food of Jewish history, of my history Recycling recipes represent a tapestry of community Unbroken tradition that bleeds into the broken present A present of inequality, of injustice Every Friday, I Can eat Challah during Shabbat, a passed down sweetness that fulfills my spirit and soul Every Spring, I Can prepare a full Seder table, and taste the inspirational stories of my ancestors who escaped enslavement eternities ago But every day I see the news, chronicling the crises of today. I feel it deep down Other members of our community Can’t Put the food of tradition, The food of community, The food of life On the table To think we’ve moved past the days of starvation, of deprivation, That has plagued the journey of my people, and the people of the world To hope and pray would be an understatement, that maybe one day we all Can Sit together, a connected humanity To do away with the struggles of the past, To embrace community with compassion, Nourishment of the body and souls Maybe one day we all Can. THEME: Historical Hunger  Eli is a 16-year-old rising high school senior from the Upper West Side who is passionate about fighting food insecurity. Since preschool, Eli has been involved in efforts to address food insecurity, packing thousands of meals, serving on the youth leadership board of God's Love We Deliver, collecting more than 200 pounds of food for City Harvest, raising money for West Side Campaign Against Hunger with a synagogue group, and becoming a finalist in the organization's Writing Against Hunger poetry contest. Beyond food insecurity, Eli is passionate about psychology, Judaism, literature, and music. Eli plays the viola, runs track and field, enjoys reading, and loves spending time outdoors in parks or at the beach.
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Our Thanksgiving Food Chain November. Leaves crackle beneath my feet on West 114th Street As I walk toward the Broadway Presbyterian Church, silent against The metallic roar of the M104 and the frantic chaos of students Trying to drown out the city. I join hands with fellow students to form a lifeline Youngest to oldest A living stream from our chapel at St Hilda’s St Hugh’s School Into the church basement’s quiet mouth. Hand to hand, we transfer the weight of Cans of food, heavy and cold as river stones Boxes of rice that shift like silty sand The rhythmic flow of tiny palms against tin and cardboard. The transfer of love and caring Not just food, but a current Each member of our community necessary By the simple act of not letting go, until the next child had a grip. The chain is soon gone but the weight remains floating A realization that tethered me to the Thanksgiving tables of others We are only as full as the things we choose to pass along. THEME: Childhood Hunger  Nikhil is a rising sophomore student in New York City. He became interested in the issue of food insecurity while in middle school and began volunteering at local food pantries and with a local community organization focused on welcoming immigrants. He also enjoys tutoring elementary and middle school students in math. A competitive swimmer, Nikhil swims on his high school varsity team and competes in regional competitions with his club team.
Hunger Unleashed An empty hole Shutting you off Drowning you in a pool of fog Invisible in the whirling tsunami Growling pain Screaming silence Mouth watering Endless wanting Desperate yearning Echoing rumble within you A nightmare of gray Spirit switched off Abandoned in a dark realm Fears racing rapidly Will I ever eat again? Will my body ever feel full? Will the pain ever stop? Knives stabbing Sending a piercing shock through you An inferno of hunger BIO: Lily is 10 years old and lives in New York City. She's in 5th grade at PS9. She plays basketball, tennis, and piano. Lily also loves to read and write.
“Finish your food,” my dad says “There are starving kids in Africa.” Sitting at my dining room table, 6 year old me didn’t know whether Africa was a state or country, let alone that there were starving children there. Or, realistically the other way around. The children there are starving. I replied, “Daddy, why can’t I send them my plate?” “We can do that!” So he sends 2 plates of food, and the neighbor sends 3. the city sends 10, the state sends 400, and the country sends 10,000. “We’re helping right, dad?” “Of course we are!” Little did 6 year old me know, those plates of food did nothing. Local African restaurants flinched at the sight of the U.S's cheap, imported food. So, the restaurants shut down, in fear of competition. The local farmers’ crop could not compare to the truckloads of the “new, free food”. So, the farmers dig up the plants, in fear of competition. I sit down at my dining room table, once again. “Dad, I thought we were helping...” “Finish your food.” my dad replies. there are starving kids in Africa.”  Caydince Huston is a first year at University of California, Davis. She holds the title of 2025 Tulare County Youth Poet Laureate. She enjoys writing poetry, studying agriculture, and performing.
Hunger Its green eyes glint as it tears bellies with sharp claws. Some people fall its teeth sunk deep into flesh. Some people beg for just a drop. Some people gorge but they keep it for themselves. They don't know hunger's green eyes the pain of the claws. BIO: Chloe is a seventh grader at Booker T. Washington Middle School.
Chatter in the Loud Lunchroom Chatter in the loud lunchroom. Everyone has food. Quiet in the sad room. Everyone is hungry. Chatter in the loud lunchroom. Food is eaten, wasted, and shared. Quiet in the sad room. Nothing changes. People in the loud lunchroom, Finally notice the people in the sad, Quiet room. Chatter in the loud lunch room. There is no longer a sad room. The narrative has changed. BIO: Born and raised in NYC, 11 year old Leela loves playing the guitar, singing, ice skating, and writing.
I am not hungry I have had enough to eat My mom is hungry  Devin is an avid enthusiast of nature, flying, music, food, and friends among many other things. He enjoys discovering new thought provoking activities and loves reading. He is most proud of being a good friend to those he is closest to.
Skip to 20:20 for poem reading. The Last Grape Walking into the grocery store All that beautiful fruit What happens if it doesn’t sell? Does it go down the garbage chute? What happens if you do that every day? At supermarkets, school and at home too Before throwing food in the trash What else can we do? Think about all the people that food could feed Let’s get that food to people in need! Bruised apples and strawberries and funny looking grapes Make sure you check those expiration dates Composting is something that’s easy to drive I started doing it when I was five Local grocers, farmers, or a restaurants grill Just because it didn’t sell doesn’t mean it should wind up in a landfill So become a food donor; it’s good for the planet You’re never too old to start a good habit Let’s fight food waste, let’s start something new For a greener planet, for me and you. Bio: Sloane is a 2nd grader who has always cared deeply about ingredients, eating healthy and food waste. She encourages her family to do the same, to recycle and even compost when we can. She loves to read, write and has encouraged friends at school to also give thought to their food and avoiding food waste.
Budae Jjigae “Should I make budae jjigae?” My dad asks and I always answer “Of course!” No need for two bowls. Just one big hot pot of fiery red stew Is enough. We dip our metal spoons in As the steam fills the air, Fogging up my glasses. I can’t see clearly, But I can feel the warmth. I feel the warmth. The piping hot stew boils. A bite from the juicy savory meat, Leaves a big smile on my glistening face. The mouth-watering spiciness from the red kimchi Makes me reach for a tall icy glass of water. Slurping the curly hot long noodles with my dad beside me, Causing my mom to scold us from the mess we made. Our family comes together in making this The warmth filling not only our stomachs But our kitchen and lives as well. Taking advantage of the life I have, Not realizing how moments like this, Are precious for people in need. The lives of many are filled with hunger, Where families are unable to eat together, Where the parents sit and watch, Saying “I’m not hungry” to distract. The food which connects, Unable to reach the families in hunger, Unable to bring warmth Of comfort and safety. The special warmth of a shared meal.  As a sophomore attending the Culinology Program at Bergen Tech High School in New Jersey, I've learned about how to make food as well as the science behind it. Taking food science classes helped spark a deeper interest in the topic of food, even leading me to write a research paper for the World Food Foundation on the topic of food scarcity in North Korea. At the WFF forum hosted by Cornell, I gained new insights into hunger and food insecurity throughout different countries.
I Don’t Know I don’t know how to help, I’m only a bit over 10 right now, But oohhh, the poor and the neglected of the world. Look at these eyes staring wide into the sky, with no tears left to cry. All of the food going in the can and down the drain, these people suffer in true pain. Some people have futures as bright as the sun, these people have zero, slash, none. Practically nothing to their name, so if you don’t try to help, who would we have to blame? ---------------------------------PONDER---------------------------------- So many medical problems, statisticians can’t keep a true tally, Better nutrition and education would not seem so shabby. The people in poverty have no convenience, life so hard and real, These people are so weak, they even can’t properly heal. It would make their world if you do your best to stop their suffering, They might even live a better life for themselves, and others, with deeper meaning. My name is Andrew Skirpan. I am 10 years old and in the 5th grade. My hobbies are baseball, piano, math, chess, and coding. I am a high academic student and in a lot of organizations and clubs both in and out of school.
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