Feeding the world one day at a time, junior Nina Wu was selected as a National Youth Advisory Council Member for Kroger Co’s Zero Hunger Zero Waste impact plan.
This year, over 1,500 students were considered for Wu’s Youth Advisory Council role with only fifteen chosen. The council crafts projects aimed to help prevent hunger and reduce food waste with the help of the grocery chain, Kroger. The Youth Advisory hosts monthly meetings where progress and further goals are discussed while the remainder of the month is spent hosting fundraisers and starting nonprofits.
The mission of Kroger’s program, Kroger Co Zero, aims to create a clean environment. With the help of their committed advisory and sustainable food system where goods are produced and sold straight from Kroger’s farms, the team has been able to improve the access to affordable and fresh food for others through lowering produce prices.
“I’ve seen hunger and waste not only within my community but through others as well,” Wu said. “There are so many people struggling and I want to help.”
Aspiring to help those in Los Angeles County from growing problems of inaccessible food, Wu has been able to work alongside other students, utilizing their various skills and experiences to help their community.
“When I first joined the council, I merely hoped to better analyze an issue that everyone around the world has a hand in,” Wu said.
During their council meetings, Wu communicates advocacy on the issue of hunger and waste while proposing different ways to help create food more accessible to others. Through Wu’s impressive achievements of using her resources and experience in helping craft projects alongside others to reduce waste and hunger, she has been awarded a $500 microgrant from Kroger to lead more community service non profit organizations.
“Each of the 14 other council members had done their part,” Wu said. “I not only had the opportunity to get their insight but Krogers as well.”
Despite the several challenges she has faced including effective outreach and infusion of the alignment of goals between both Youth Advisory and Kroger, Wu continues to find solutions that will ensure everyone’s happiness.
“Food systems are interconnected with the values in our daily lives and by being able to contribute as a youth,” said Wu. “I believe that the effects can ripple through the lives of future generations.”
