Our founder, Manya Mohan, started Bites Beyond Borders after moving to Brentwood at the end of 9th grade, inspired by years of volunteering at meal-packing events and a deep desire to bring that kind of impact to her new community. In the beginning, it felt impossible, she would pick a different building at school each day and go classroom to classroom asking teachers for support, only to hear “no” again and again. Many adults told her it wasn’t realistic. But Manya kept going, fundraising, applying for grants, building a team of passionate students, and refusing to let go of the idea. In May, nearly 200 volunteers came together at the organization’s very first event, packing enough meals to feed over 18,000 people in Haiti. That was just the beginning, Bites Beyond Borders continues to grow, committed to delivering more meals, creating more impact, and proving what’s possible when young people lead with heart.