Laura Distelheim combats hunger among the impoverished children of domestic and seasonal workers who live hidden in the shadows of her affluent community. After finding a child searching for food in a gas station, Laura began to investigate the issue.
She learned that there are nearly 900 children in her school district for whom the National School Lunch Program provides the only nutritious meal of the day. Hundreds more preschoolers cant even depend on receiving that meal.
Laura undertook additional research and discovered that her township's food pantry could not meet the demand of feeding the hungry in her community. She responded by creating Neighbor to Neighbor, a 501(c)(3) organization that raises funds to purchase gift certificates to grocery stores, and then distributes the certificates to impoverished families.
Laura has battled an illness since she was ten-years-old, which has caused her to undergo four operations and has cost her career and her chance at becoming a mother. But she refuses to let it prevent her from improving the quality of life of these struggling children in her community.
Read More Hero Stories >
