When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools, venues, and public activities around the U.S., Isaac Bernstein (17 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) wanted to find a way to add a little cheer to his neighbors. Isaac also began thinking of other ways the pandemic was impacting his community. In 2018, approximately 260,000 people in the Greater Pittsburgh were food insecure, but due to the pandemic, that number increased to almost 370,000 in 2020. Combining fun activities with supporting people experiencing hunger, Isaac created Plates for Pitt.

Through Plates for Pitt, Isaac hosts seasonal fundraisers including Easter Egg Hunts, Easter Bunny Visits, and storytime with the Grinch. During each event, there is a suggested donation for participants, all of which is donated directly to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. What started as a way to help neighbors and find something to do during Spring Break has grown exponentially and Isaac has now begun to recruit volunteers to help fill over 1,000 plastic eggs before spending anywhere between 4 and 5 hours hiding them across three towns! Between his holiday programs and an annual 3-on-3 hockey tournament, Isaac has already raised $45,000 for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank—the equivalent of 185,000 meals—over the last four years. He hopes that his work inspires others, showing then that one person can make a difference and there are so many creative ways through which someone can help others.