Young Advocates Council Provides Access to over 70,000 Meals

Students spent the school year learning about hunger in their community, volunteering and fundraising.

Through a volunteer fundraising effort and canned food drives, North Texas Food Bank’s 2024-2025 Young Advocates Council helped provide more than 70,000 meals for their neighbors facing hunger.

The group of more than 20 high school students met monthly from September through April to learn about the food bank, fundraising and other topics. They also had the chance to volunteer during multiple shifts throughout the school year and to raise funds to support the 1 in 6 North Texans experiencing food insecurity.

Co-president Deniz Gurun, a Hockaday High School student who’s participated for multiple years, said the group helped her to see the difference that volunteering can make.

“The YAC gives teens a chance to speak up, help out, and fight hunger together,” she said. “At the food bank, volunteering is more than just getting involved. It makes real impacts in our community. It fuels purpose with passion.”

Together, the group raised $24,000 through an online peer-to-peer fundraiser and through in-person farmers market events during the spring. For everyone who donated to NTFB at a market, the Young Advocates gave them a hand-painted tote bag as a thank you gift. The fundraiser was one that the students planned as a team, developing entrepreneurial, leadership and fundraising skills as they went.

“The experience really gives them a chance to see how they can make an impact,” said Johnny Jenkins, NTFB Strategic Initiatives Manager who oversees the group.

Applications are open now for the 2025-2026 school year. Find out more here and apply to join the group here. Applications close June 30.