Ridgefield 12-Year-Old Awarded Grant For Childhood Hunger Project

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ruby Weiner, a 12-year-old resident of Ridgefield, Juliette Girl Scout and Member of National Charity League Nutmeg, has been awarded her second Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grant through Youth Service America. The grant will support Ruby in leading “Food Gardens for Good,” a community service project that addresses the issue of childhood hunger.

Last year, Ruby developed and gifted six Free Little Food Pantries to Ridgefield. This year, Weiner decided the community service need was in Norwalk. She has always wanted to give back to Family & Children’s Agency, the adoption agency that brought her home to parents Patty Labozzo and Robert Weiner. Every year, FCA rents three garden plots at Fodor Farms for three of their programs: ASPIRE After School, Prevention and Community Connections. However, the people meant to benefit from these plots don't have the funds available to develop them. Weiner decided to apply for a grant, then use the money for gardening supplies and tools for all three plots, and create a team to teach gardening skills.

"I feel I can make most impact by showing children and their families how to garden, offering them the tools and supplies they may not be able to purchase on their own, teaching lifelong skills, growing specific vegetables and herbs needed by cultural groups, and ultimately — creating a gardening community where children and families can meet, socialize, take pride in their work, encourage and turn to one another for support. Gardening skills teach and empower people to grow their own nutritious food and eat healthier. I’ll also collect simple recipes from all participants, and compile a cookbook for our Fodor Farm Family."

Ruby is one of 100 young people across the country awarded Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation grants to organize projects to help end childhood hunger. Grantees will educate and mobilize their peers around the issue to help end childhood hunger through awareness, service, advocacy, and philanthropic activities. They join young leaders and volunteers around the world as part of Global Youth Service Day, April 29-May 1, 2022.