On Saturday, August 23, 50 Montverde Academy Upper School students stepped up in a big way, traveling to the Central Florida Fairgrounds to participate in Light Orlando’s annual Hunger Project. Their mission? To help pack one million meals in a single day for families facing food insecurity across Central Florida.
Among the volunteers were athletes from the junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams, led by Coach Jola Graham, who saw the event as a powerful team-building opportunity. Other students were allowed to sign up to volunteer for this event as well. The school provided transportation, and the bus rolled out at 7:30 am, filled with students ready to make a difference.
Over 2,500 volunteers gathered for the event, energized by music from a live DJ and united by a shared purpose. In just over four hours, the collective effort resulted in 1,023,675 protein-rich, vegan meals that were distributed to 65 local pantries, including several right here in Lake County—a testament to the power of community action.
Montverde Academy students were all smiles throughout the day, proud to be part of something bigger than themselves.
“Going to the light Orlando event was beyond a great experience,” said sophomore Gabi Carvalho. “It was an opportunity to help the community while having fun especially because we went as a team.”
“I had wonderful experience,” said senior Petar Ratkovic. “It was a fun and amazing way to connect with new people. We were laughing while at the same time helping with preparations. This experience helped me to have a deeper respect for people in need and showed me how hard it is to cook and prepare meals. It also showed me that I should enjoy and appreciate every bite of food because we are fortunate to have daily meals on our plate.”
For students looking to get involved in future service opportunities, HelperHelper.com is the service hour tracking and opportunity platform to search. Upper School students can log in using their school email and password. Students may also find projects on their own in their local communities.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” On this day, Montverde Academy students answered with action, compassion, and heart
