Sodexo STOPS Hunger

I started Joshua’s Heart when I was just four and a half years old. One Sunday morning, before church, I happened to see a commercial for Feed the Children on TV. That moment opened my eyes. I had no idea children lived that way; they were starving and so skinny. I wanted to help them so badly. I knew I had to do something. Since that day, I felt that this was my purpose. I think God gave me that feeling. My purpose was to help others who have no choice but to go hungry.

In order to fulfill my purpose, I begged my family to do more. The whole family started to work together to feed the homeless; soon we were feeding 150 a week. We did this until we were told it was against the law to give food in public. That didn’t stop me, though. We found a way to give away more food through my grandmother’s church to families that needed it. Our work grew and I loved it. I was making a difference.

Joshua’s Heart Foundation was officially founded with the help of my mom, my aunt, and a consultant.

Now I have helped donate over 250,000 pounds of food to over 1,000 families in South Florida. I have raised over $90,000 for my cause. I speak at schools and to any group that will listen in hopes of inspiring others to give back to the community.

Joshua’s Heart has big plans this fall. We are having a fundraiser to help start our first backpack program to send children home with a backpack of food for the weekend each Friday. It is also my goal to have ambassadors for Joshua’s Heart in every state and around the world.

I recently received an award from the Sodexo Foundation for my efforts to fight hunger. It included a $5,000 scholarship for my education and a $5,000 grant to Joshua’s Heart Foundation. I am so happy that this scholarship will help me achieve my dream of a college degree, and the generous donation to Joshua’s Heart Foundation will help put food on empty plates this summer.

I am thankful for all those who have helped me and for those who continue to do so. I will never stop working hard to beat hunger one community at a time. But I need your help…

Joshua is a 2010 Sodexo Foundation STOP Hunger Scholarship Award winner. Click here for more on Joshua and other awardees.

SODEXO8260