SEOBLOGREEN - A simple question can change everything. It can fill a semi-trailer. It can feed thousands of families. It can teach a whole city a lesson.
The person behind this huge action is a 13-year-old boy. His name is Ender Lin. He is an eighth-grader in Pittsburgh. Ender did not build a complex app. He did not organize a huge fundraiser. He just wrote a letter. That was his project. It was for a class. The class was about service.
 |
| Gambar dari Pixabay |
The Power of Asking: One Letter, Forty Pallets
Ender's goal was clear. He wanted to help his local community. Specifically, the Jewish Family and Community Services Squirrel Hill Food Pantry. He knew people there. He had seen their work. He had seen how they helped Ukrainian families hosted by his own mother. The need was real. It was growing.
He thought about what people needed most. Cereal came to mind. It is a quick breakfast. It is shelf-stable. Most importantly, everyone likes it. "Everybody likes cereal," he said. He thought about the daily routines. A little bit of normal is important during hard times. He wrote this in his letter. Cereal helps people keep their routine. That is his philosophy.
Targeting the Right Person
Ender is smart. He did not just send a random letter. He wrote to the Kellogg Company. He was very specific. He looked for an executive. He found the "head of well-being." That seemed like the right person to ask. He figured they would understand the need. His mother, Claire Topal, was with him. They had no idea what would happen. They just waited.
Weeks went by. Then the phone rang. It was not a small reply. It was a massive response. Kellogg's loved the idea. They would send a donation. It would be huge.
Jesse Sharrard, the pantry director, got the call. A truckload was on its way. He was completely surprised. The initial request was for his small pantry. The actual donation was much, much bigger.
A Truckload of Kindness: 19,648 Pounds of Hope
The delivery day arrived. It was January 7. A giant tractor-trailer backed up. It was filled to the brim. Forty-three pallets of cereal boxes were inside. The total weight? An astonishing 19,648 pounds. That is more than 9.8 tons.
Ender stood next to the truck. He watched the crew. They started hauling the boxes. It took over 30 minutes just to unload. Forklifts moved the massive pallets. The warehouse quickly filled with breakfast. He felt grateful. He felt happy. They listened, he realized. They really went out of their way.
The small pantry could not handle that much food. It was a good problem to have. So the gift was redirected. It went to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. This bank is a network. It serves eleven counties across Southwestern Pennsylvania. Ender's small request exploded into a regional lifeline.
One boy's vision became 16,000-plus meals. That is the new math of kindness.
Inspiration for Others
Ender's mother, Claire, hopes his story helps other kids. She wants them to know they have power. They can do things like this. They just need to speak up. It doesn't hurt to ask. Ender himself now sees himself as a burgeoning writer. He is not done yet. He had done something similar for his Bar Mitzvah. He asked spice companies for donations. That brought salt, cumin, and garlic to the pantry. He understands the simple truth. It takes very little to ask for a lot. A little flavor can remind people of home. A bowl of cereal can start a day right.
This story is a simple one. It has an eighth-grader. It has a big company. It has a giant truck. But the core is human. It is about empathy. It is about seeing a need. It is about having the courage to write. Ender Lin showed that a pen is heavier than 19,000 pounds of cereal. It is much more powerful. He made a difference. He made a huge difference. All from a simple letter.
Source: cbsnews.com
#EnderLin #FoodDonation #GreaterPittsburghCommunityFoodBank
