Fighting Hunger Together: How our Community Has Strengthened Nosh’s Mission
 

Hunger is a battle that no one should have to fight alone. Yet, food insecurity is a daily reality for over 750 families in the North Shore area. Nosh, a nonprofit organization, has been at the forefront of addressing this crisis, ensuring that families’ basic needs are met by providing essential food supplies weekly. Recently, the Portledge community, specifically the Community Service Club and Beautification Club, has actively supported Nosh, proving we can impact each other. 

With hunger affecting countless families, Nosh's work is more than just a charity—it’s a lifeline. The Portledge community has stepped up in various ways to support this mission, including volunteering, organizing events, and helping Nosh gain space and visibility on social media to spread awareness and get more people involved. Catherine Kasper ‘26 (A Nosh Youth Volunteer): “It means a lot that I have the opportunity to go to Nosh and see the smiles on the kid's faces when they know they will have a next meal, and that burden is taken away from them.”

 

KFIP: Feeding Our Future 

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Kid’s Food Independence Program, or KFIP, addresses a critical gap in our society: the lack of access to school-funded meal programs on weekends and during school breaks. By providing shelf-stable breakfast and lunch bags, KFIP ensures that children facing food insecurity have reliable access to meals without being a financial burden to their families. KFIP is more than just a decorated, brown paper bag; it's a movement. This movement aims to empower children by alleviating financial burdens on families, offering consistent and accessible meals, and fostering a new community-driven approach to food security. 

 

Serving with Heart: Redefining Community Service with Nosh
 

Throughout the year, Nosh organizes special holiday events to support the Glen Cove community. In recent months, Courtney Callahan, head of NOYO (Nosh Youth), has inspired and coordinated community initiatives for those who depend on the food pantry. These events have received enthusiastic support from students at schools along the North Shore. Notably, Portledge students have taken the lead in transforming the food pantry experience by introducing innovative and unique approaches. Through their leadership, the food pantry's mission is reflected in every donation, event, and video.

 

Portledge students actively volunteer beyond their weekly commitments on Tuesday nights. They also organize and host holiday events for the Nosh community. This past Christmas season, on December 7th, Lachlan Vogel, Madalena Peterson, and Ruby Holt joined forces to host the NOSH Christmas event, where numerous families enjoyed meals and toys provided by Nosh. The Portledge students set up a hot chocolate stand to spread Christmas cheer, enthusiastically serving each cup. A volunteer at Nosh, Ruby Holt, ‘27, said, “The hands-on experience at Nosh allows me to connect with different members of the Long Island community, from seniors to children. Specifically, at the Christmas event, I could give presents to the needy children in Glen Cove.” Furthermore, on February 8th, the Beautification Club and Community Service Club members came together for a day of service. They collaborated with children of all ages to create Valentine's hearts, KFIP bags, and gift bags, all intended for Nosh recipients. 

 

The ‘Noshiverse’ Movement: How Collaboration and Arts are Changing the Narrative on Food Dignity

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Portledge students have created an interactive service community through the arts and media to combat the stigma surrounding food dignity. As a form of marketing specifically catered to the youth of the North Shore, Portledge students have created videos, documentaries, and art to gain the greater community's support and normalize the use of a food pantry. Additionally, these videos are media evidence of all the impressive feats of the Nosh and NOYO community!

Hunger is an ongoing challenge that never takes a break. This persistent cycle necessitates dedicated volunteers to support organizations like Nosh, ensuring that no family in our community goes without a meal. Every Tuesday evening, the Nosh pantry welcomes youth volunteers from 4:30 P.M. to 7 P.M. who are eager to join the fight against food insecurity, which impacts over 10% of the world’s population. Together, we can make a meaningful difference—one meal, one family, and one event at a time. Don’t hesitate to become part of the Noshiverse and contribute to its remarkable achievements!