Chicago Boy, 8, Organizes Food Drive as SNAP Benefit Cuts Loom
Instead of planning a party for his upcoming birthday, eight-year-old Alex Anning of Chicago chose a different path. He decided to organize a community food drive to support families facing hardship.
In the days before his October 2 birthday, Alex’s home in Tinley Park was transformed into a distribution hub, stocked like a grocery store. His mother, Kymbria Young, said the idea took root after a poignant encounter. “The light turned green, so we had to drive off and weren’t able to give him money. So, Alex was really distraught,” Young told WBBM, recalling the moment her son saw a man experiencing homelessness.
Moved by that experience, Alex partnered with his mother’s nonprofit, Season to Soar, to provide free groceries to over 150 neighbors on October 1. “We just grab the food and put them in the bag. As many as we can,” Alex explained. “The more stuff you put in the bags, the more heavy the stuff gets.”
Forgoing a traditional celebration, Alex launched this special initiative, seeing it as a win-win for both the community and the local environment. “I’m super proud of him,” Young said. “To see that my son is giving and leading change by serving the community is just so inspiring for me, and I hope that it inspires others as well.”
The young philanthropist is already planning to host another food drive for his next birthday, demonstrating a learned joy in giving.
A Critical Time for Community Support
Alex’s effort is particularly vital as recent federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are expected to heighten food insecurity for millions of Americans, according to studies from the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics and the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
With reduced access to government food assistance, many families will increasingly rely on community support and local food banks. The Harvard School of Public Health notes that SNAP is facing large-scale cuts affecting eligibility and benefit amounts. These changes threaten to reverse the program’s proven role in reducing food insecurity and helping families avoid impossible choices.
This context makes grassroots initiatives, like the one led by an eight-year-old boy, essential for bridging the gap and ensuring vulnerable populations have access to necessary resources.