At the Ottumwa Legacy Foundation, we believe students can lead real change when given the chance. This spring, students at Gateway High School showed just how powerful that can be. With a $2,500 Legacy Youth Alliance grant, they set out to support families during Spring Break by assembling 200 kid-friendly meal kits. What began as a classroom idea quickly grew into a full community effort. The students raised over $10,000 in food and monetary donations by writing grants, reaching out to businesses, and rallying support from their school.  

They took ownership of every part of the project. From designing meal kits to building a distribution strategy and marketing plan, they worked through each detail. When their original timeline proved too short, they made the decision to extend the project through the end of the school year. On distribution day, they faced language barriers that made communication challenging. In response, they developed a plan to include translators at future events so every family would feel welcomed and informed.  

The impact was clear. Every single person who received the kit said it was helpful. Nearly 90 percent shared that it made grocery costs easier to manage. Many asked if the program could return next year. One recipient expressed, “Thank you for your generosity to the families of Ottumwa. We are deeply grateful for bringing healthy food to our tables.”  

This project was more than a service event. It was a real learning experience. The students saw how their actions could bring people together, solve problems, and meet real needs in the community. They left feeling proud and motivated. They discovered that their voices matter and that they have the power to make meaningful things happen.