Stars in Action

April 30, 2026

TFK editors

We love hearing from our Service Stars community. Thank you, Stars, for sharing your stories! What will you do next?

Adaora, 11, Georgia

A smiling girl sits cross-legged on the floor, wearing a pink sweater and white shirt against a plain background.

COURTESY BARBARA NWAEHI

From Adaora’s mom: From being named a Love Ambassador for the Partnership for a Healthier America by former First Lady Michelle Obama to serving as a junior board member for Children Helping Children, Adaora inspires her peers to lead with kindness, empathy, and courage.

Elizabeth, 16, New York

A girl in a blue hoodie and pink gloves holds a crate of fresh vegetables in a garden.

COURTESY ELIZABETH MILGRIM

From Elizabeth’s mom: Elizabeth wondered what our family should do with our homegrown produce before leaving for a trip. She donated it to a food pantry, and Garden Givers PW was born. The group encourages gardeners to donate excess produce. It has donated more than 600 pounds of food.

Hunter, 17, Virginia

I’ve been on a four-year journey to combat food waste. My nonprofit, A Taste of Home, partners with restaurants to retrieve unsold food and drop it off at a shelter.

Monroe High School students, Michigan

From teacher Kathleen Calloway: This school year, our class has been inspired to perform acts of kindness. We started by making art projects, writing cards, and creating holiday ornaments for the residents at a nursing home. Our decorations helped make their home feel happier during the holidays.

LaFrancis Hardiman students, New York

We created a “sunshine cart” to spread kindness in our school. Staff members fill out an order form for drinks and snacks. On a random day, students deliver the orders.

Angel Song, 16, California

I planned a no-idling pledge for teen drivers and parents at my school. We were able to promote healthier school-pickup habits and amplify youth-led clean-air education on campus.

Stafford Early Childhood Center students, Texas

Four young children smile and hold decorated paper bags with drawings while standing outside.

COURTESY JOHANNA CHESSER

From teacher Johanna Chesser: Our students wanted to do a community service project that involved delivering care packages to people in need. We delivered care-package bags to a nursing home and a homeless shelter. My students were excited to pack the bags and deliver them. I’m grateful our students had this opportunity.

Dhilan, 15, Illinois

A teenage boy stands beside an elderly woman in a cozy living room, with a piano, plants, and framed pictures behind them.

COURTESY TOM STANLEY

From Dhilan’s dad: Dhilan has been volunteering at the Illinois Holocaust Museum. He became friends with a 100-year-old Holocaust survivor named Janine. Dhilan recently gave a TED Talk on unlikely friendships, highlighting their relationship.

Swan School students, Washington

A group of young children and a teacher pose together outdoors around a small food-sharing box.

COURTESY KATEY DWYER

From teacher Katey Dwyer: We realized that very few people know where our town’s food pantries are located. My students created a map showing all the free pantries. We have also started installing and stocking new pantries for the community.