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Second Harvest is a 501(c)(3) youth-led nonprofit organization based in Loudoun County, founded in 2023 by three high school students: Swara Reddy, Anvi Borkar, and Saanvi Celamkoti. As students in the Academies of Loudoun, Academy of Engineering and Technology pathway, they were driven to create a project aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal #2, Zero Hunger.
Their inspiration came from a simple but powerful observation. Every Friday, untouched and nutritious cafeteria meals were being thrown away in local high schools. At the same time, families within the same community were facing food insecurity, unsure of where their next meal would come from. Recognizing this disconnect, the founders stepped in to bridge the gap, creating what they call a “recipe for change.” This recipe is built on four key ingredients: donations, education, partnerships, and awareness.
At its foundation is food recovery. Second Harvest has mobilized over 60 student ambassadors across seven Loudoun County high schools (Lightridge, The Academies of Loudoun, Briar Woods, Broad Run, John Champe, Freedom, and Riverside) to collect surplus cafeteria food and redistribute it to Loudoun Hunger Relief, the leading food bank in Northern Virginia. Since its founding, the organization has recovered and donated more than 3,000 pounds of nutritious food, equivalent to nearly 1,000 meals. Beyond the numbers, this effort reflects a shift in how students view service: not as a requirement, but as a responsibility.
The second ingredient, education, emphasizes long-term impact. Second Harvest partners with elementary schools across the county, including Goshen Post, Mill Run, Henrietta Lacks, Arcola, and Hutchinson Farm, to educate younger students about food waste and food insecurity. By reaching students early, the organization aims to build lasting awareness and promote sustainable habits. To date, they have educated over 800 students and are continuing to visit more schools.
Partnerships form the third pillar of their work. Second Harvest works in close collaboration with Loudoun County Public Schools staff, cafeteria managers, and Loudoun Hunger Relief to ensure all food recovery efforts meet safety and regulatory standards. These relationships have been critical in expanding their reach and maintaining consistency across multiple schools. A key contributor to the organization’s growth is Ms. Irene Stevens, the LCPS Nutrition manager who allowed and believed in them to take Second Harvest to multiple schools.
In addition, Mr. Alec Loyd played a significant role in starting the first chapter of Second Harvest at ACL. Their work has also been recognized by the Loudoun Times-Mirror as a “top story” in December 2025, highlighting their growing impact. The founding trio has also placed Top 10 at the StepUp Loudoun Youth Competition in 2025 and 2026. To allow Second Harvest to continue after they graduate, they’ve already started to train a new set of underclassmen to take over soon.
Finally, awareness extends their mission beyond physical donations. Through their website and social media platforms, including Instagram and LinkedIn, Second Harvest has reached thousands of individuals. With over 1,000 followers and multiple international collaborations on Instagram, they continue to make food waste and food insecurity more visible and actionable issues.
Together, these four ingredients create a model that is both sustainable and scalable. With membership increasing by over 200% in the past year, Second Harvest plans to expand to more schools and advocate for broader food recovery initiatives across Virginia. Their mission is not just to reduce waste, but to redefine how communities approach and address food waste. By turning excess into opportunity, Second Harvest is demonstrating that meaningful change can start with a simple idea and a committed group of students.
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article/column are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of South Asian Herald.
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