“Ruhan’s Rally” has helped families like the Seepauls, who came from Trinidad and Tobago to receive critical care for their son.
CAMDEN, New Jersey (WPVI) — “Back in 2020, when the pandemic was starting up, me and my mom, we were at the supermarket and the mom ahead of us couldn’t pay for all the food in their cart,” said 14-year-old Ruhan Shah. “And even though others around her offered to help, she refused.”
The eye-opening moment made the then-8th grader from Lumberton Township, New Jersey, think about how he could make a difference.
“It really actually got me kind of emotional that people that are just like me can’t have the same, you know, experience or the same life that they would want to live,” he said.
By the year 2021, Shah was able to start his own community food drive. “Ruhan’s Rally” started as a call-to-action for local businesses to create donation boxes in their stores. It also corralled Shah’s family, Lumberton Township officials, Rancocas Valley Regional High School and its school district to contribute to the cause.
The food drive returned in 2022 yielding roughly the same result. Around 250 bags worth of food were presented to local families at a pickup event. However, at the end of the day, a considerable amount of bags were left over. That inspired Shah to donate them to the Children’s Home in Mt. Holly and the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey.
Source: South Jersey teen’s rally for food donations helps families in need