Out of the six million people in my hometown of the Greater Atlanta area, 20% live below the poverty line. This crippling reality of poverty increases the likelihood of encountering future health problems and financial risks that lower one's standard of living, impacting the individual and the greater community. Within school districts, students from households with incomes below the poverty line qualify for free lunch. However, this fails to address how those who fall above the national breadline don't qualify for free lunch, even if they struggle financially, Our future has always depended on the foundation of motivated and educated youth. However, the challenges that come with food insecurities pose significant threats to this framework. For this reason, I have been a dedicated advocate for greater access, availability, and affordability of healthy food options for people of all backgrounds. My passion for helping those facing hunger was changed by a simple trip to Kroger when I was 7-years-old and encountered a family outside the store asking for help. As a small child, I thought people in need of food were limited to those we would see on television in other countries. However, after that Kroger visit, I discovered the challenges of people facing hunger existed everywhere. I recall asking my mom if we could help the family standing near the exit, and that moment changed my life. From friends, family, or strangers, a desire to help those in need has become my life's work since that day. In recent years, I've been active in my school's Help the Homeless Club and Sandwich Project Atlanta. I've been honored to serve others by making sandwiches for the homeless, working as an assistant shopper at the local food pantry, and regularly donating unopen dry goods to local community fridges. In doing so, these experiences have strongly influenced how I view overconsumption. I now practice mindfulness when eating and buying food, doing my best to ensure I minimize waste. I've educated myself further by participating in online hunger education simulators to better understand the barriers some encounter to obtaining healthy meals. After experiencing a pandemic and extreme inflation, the homeless population or those facing food insecurities has skyrocketed. As environmental changes continue to unfold, this number will increase due to adverse changes to crops and housing. The privilege that many of us have to access food, running water, or even temperature-controlled homes is not the reality for thousands locally, millions nationally, and billions globally. My time on my school's debate team and participation in Policy Debate tournaments have allowed for eye-opening conversations on how environmental burdens will predominately affect the Global South or our own communities of color in the United States, an issue I see as dire to recognize as a Black American. Environmental racism is such a ubiquitous phenomenon that most urban cities will be ill-prepared for rising heatwaves due to having less vegetation on average to provide shade or cool via evapotranspiration. Learning more about this reality has inspired me to seek a better understanding of how legislation can improve the lives of many in our country. After one simple interaction at Kroger, I have become committed to a mission to help others, currently doing everything I can to tangibly give back to my community and treat those in need with equity and respect. I plan to continue serving in my area, addressing food insecurities and tackling domestic hunger. I aspire to join the fight against global famine in regions most impacted by climate change. It's time we all stand to fight against hunger and preserve the dignity of those affected.