OUR STORY

A Letter from Ashley Cohen, CEO and Founder of HTHV

My name is Ashley Cohen, and I'm a sixteen-year-old from San Diego, California. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was overwhelmed with homework, midterms, and AP exams from home. While I faced the sudden stresses of quarantine, I realized that COVID-19 was disproportionately affecting the less fortunate in my community. I wanted to help. I couldn't host a physical food drive because of the pandemic, I emptied my piggy bank and barely had enough money to pay for one family's groceries, and I couldn't even drive a car. So, I had to get creative.
I recruited a Board of Directors and launched Helping the Hungry Virtually, a way we could help fight food insecurity without any physical contact.

THE PROBLEM

How has COVID-19 impacted food insecurity?

HUNGER PRE-PANDEMIC

Even before the pandemic struck, food insecurity plagued this nation. According to research conducted by Feeding America, one in six children in the United States faces food insecurity. 750,000 children may be food insecure in New York City and Los Angeles alone. Ignoring the burdens of COVID-19, hunger is a problem that needs to be solved urgently.

Ashley Cohen, CEO & Founder

“So, I had to get creative.”

OUR MISSION

By sending grocery gift cards to families in need of food assistance, Helping the Hungry Virtually serves to do our part in the nationwide fight against food insecurity without any physical contact.

HELPING THE HUNGRY VIRTUALLY IN NUMBERS

OVER $10,300

RAISED

OVER 130 FAMILIES

HELPED

EIGHT COMMUNITIES

ENGAGED

17 TEENAGERS

STRIVING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW