By: Emma Rosenfeld
Students at Syosset High School are demonstrating how they can take initiative and make an impact on the world around them. From selling Crumbl Cookies in the hallway after school to teaching English classes for international learners, students here are proving that small efforts can lead to extraordinary change. A model example of this ideal are two student-led nonprofits, Feed the Future and Uplift Scholars.
These students are not only taking action for their own community, but also extending their reach to children and families across the world. Whether by funding nutritious meals or providing educational resources, they are making an impact larger than the walls of the school. “We are a nonprofit called ‘Feed the Future,’ founded by me, Angela Zhang, and Stella Park,” said senior Supriya Kaur Sachdeva, one of the organization’s co-founders. She said, “We started this initiative for a DECA project where we had to raise money for a certain cause. Although we didn’t make it to ICDC, we decided we loved raising money for a good cause and continued with our journey this year as well.”
Feed the Future raises money for No Kid Hungry, a national charity that provides meals to children in need. According to Supriya, the organization “promises to provide 100 meals for every ten dollars donated” and also “supports meal programs, funds food banks, and advocates for policies that expand access to nutritious foods.” The group has found a way to connect their efforts directly to their peers’ interests. “We usually sell Crumbl Cookies due to the huge demand and craving for them among Syosset students,” said Supriya. Being a student means understanding students and using that knowledge to maximize profit for the cause. Feed the Future has also branched out into other creative fundraisers. Supriya said, “We’ve held bake sales as well as sold bubble tea as a source of fundraising. We’re always looking to sell whatever people would actually be willing to buy.”
Photo provided by Elaine Liu
Uplift Scholars is another nonprofit at Syosset High School. “Uplift Scholars is a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the gap of educational inequalities,” said co-founder Elaine Liu. The organization offers Englishas-a-Second-Language classes locally while using all proceeds from fundraisers to support education worldwide. Elaine said, “In the past, we’ve sold all different things at Syosset High School, from Crumbl Cookies to bubble tea to Japanese onigiri. All of the proceeds we earn go to this mission.” Their recent project, “Learning Under the Sky,” exemplifies the scale of their vision. “We partnered with Global Teachers Institute and Teach With Africa to provide backpacks, school supplies, and early education instruction to over 300 young children in Kenya and South Africa,” said Elaine.
Both organizations show how much impact can grow from within a single high school. Students at Syosset are proving that passion, creativity, and collaboration can stretch far beyond their immediate surroundings. Although students who buy from these nonprofits don’t typically know where exactly the money goes, they do know that they love Crumbl Cookies and bubble tea. Ultimately, these examples highlight that Syosset has students with the passion to create successful nonprofits that make a real-world impact.
