Inspiring Young Minds: Shivaan Kapur's Subsidy Bag Drive for Community Meals on Wheels

GLEN ROCK, NJ - Shivaan Kapur, a recent fifth-grade graduate from Byrd School, alongside his friends Flynn Lynch, Devin Han, Benjamin St. Laurent, Cooper Malko, and Maddox Sumter, undertook a commendable initiative to organize a subsidy bag drive for Community Meals on Wheels non-profit.  This project aimed to assist seniors in Bergen County who face food insecurity.

The drive was inspired by Shivaan’s brother, Aahan Kapur, who had previously organized a similar food drive benefiting Oasis in Paterson. Shivaan admired his brother's efforts and aspired to make a similar impact, channeling his determination into creating a successful drive of his own.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

The planning phase involved leveraging social media platforms to raise awareness. Shivaan and his team created informative videos and posts to disseminate details about the drive. They also curated grocery lists to guide donors on what items were needed.

One of the major challenges Shivaan faced was balancing the drive with schoolwork and other extracurricular activities. Despite this, with the unwavering support of his mother, Supriya Kapur, they navigated through various obstacles, from managing social media to addressing logistical issues.

The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive. Shivaan’s friends were eager to participate and support the cause. Community members contributed by donating food items at Shivaan’s mother's store if they were unable to attend the drive day at Kilroys, where Ms. Kilroy graciously allowed the team to collect donations outside her store.

Through this initiative, Shivaan gained profound insights into the challenges faced by homebound seniors in Bergen County. He realized that many seniors struggle to afford basic food items like macaroni and cheese or oatmeal, which many take for granted.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

Reflecting on the impact, Shivaan believes that the recipients of the subsidy bags will greatly appreciate the collective effort to provide them with essential food items. His advice to other kids aiming to make a difference is to set a goal and strive to surpass it before moving on to the next challenge.

Shivaan and his team plan to organize another drive in the fall to fill 60 blizzard bags. They encourage people to follow the Community Meals page ( www.communitymealsonwheels.org ) for more information and to get involved.

One of Shivaan’s favorite moments during the process was witnessing the sheer amount of food collected at the end of the drive. If he could do anything differently next time, he would aim for an even bigger goal.

Shivaan’s role models, his parents Supriya and Arjun Kapur, have instilled in him the importance of giving back to the community. When he’s not organizing food drives, Shivaan enjoys playing tennis, practicing jiu-jitsu at Trasso, and spending time with his friends.

Shivaan Kapur’s story is a testament to the power of young individuals making a significant impact in their communities. Through determination, teamwork, and community support, Shivaan and his friends have shown that age is no barrier to creating positive change.

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net