Seventh grade students from Norwood-Fontbonne Academy (NFA) in Chestnut Hill handed advocacy letters about food insecurity to state Rep. Tarik Khan on April 22. Now, those letters are contributing to a formal resolution introduced in the state House of Representatives.

“After learning about the realities of hunger in Philadelphia and beyond, students felt compelled to move beyond awareness and into impact,” said Megan Stotz, who leads NFA’s media studies program. “Their response: establish Blessing Boxes, known as Bear Boxes, on both of NFA’s campuses to provide free, accessible food and essentials to anyone in need. Once a month the students will deliver the donated items to local pantries in the area.”

The “Blessing Boxes” are two lending-library-style boxes on each of NFA’s campuses. Community members are encouraged to stock them with nonperishable food items, hygiene products, and seasonal essentials.

“We realized that learning about food insecurity wasn’t enough,” said NFA seventh grade student Liam Murphy. “If we believe everyone deserves dignity and access to food, then we have to do something about it. The Blessing Box is our way of putting our faith and our learning into action.”

The students then took the next step, advocating with Khan for legislation to raise awareness about hunger in Pennsylvania. Following their presentations, Khan, along with students from both NFA and Chestnut Hill College, came together to help write a draft of the resolution. Introduced in the House by Khan and two co-sponsors, and designated as HR 493, it calls for the recognition of May 28, 2026, as World Hunger Day in Pennsylvania, highlighting it as an urgent issue.

“Our students are learning that their voices matter,” Stotz said. “They are not waiting to grow up to make a difference. They are feeding neighbors, writing policy-focused speeches, and standing before elected officials, all while asking bigger questions about justice, dignity, and responsibility.”

The NFA project also connected students with local organizations that address food insecurity and community support, extending the impact well beyond campus.

“In partnership with students from Chestnut Hill College, our students wrote advocacy speeches to address systemic causes of hunger,” Stotz said. “They demonstrated how young people can engage civically while serving their community. Through this initiative, students are exploring the difference between charity and justice, learning that while charity meets immediate needs, justice seeks long-term change. They are discovering what it means to walk with both feet in this world: offering direct service while advocating for systemic solutions.”

The seventh grade media studies program at NFA challenges students to examine real-world issues through research, critical thinking and advocacy. Students analyze media messages, investigate social challenges connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and create projects to inspire action.