At Green Grove, we start every project with a simple belief: every child deserves to feel nourished, supported, and seen.
As students in Howard County, many of us have grown up hearing about food insecurity, but never understanding its true weight. Now, as high school students, we’ve realized that hunger exists in our own classrooms, our neighbors’ homes, and across communities connected to Laurel. This understanding inspired us to create Green Grove in January of 2024. We are a youth-led nonprofit dedicated to closing the food accessibility gap, educating about sustainable practices, and creating a generational movement rooted in environmental stewardship.
At the beginning of 2025, we proudly launched our Future Sprouts program at Bollman Bridge, a Title I Elementary School. Here, we were given the incredible opportunity to work with over 30 students, exploring healthy eating, gardening basics, and composting to understand how daily practices shape both personal well-being and the environment.
In September of 2025, we officially opened Reservoir High School’s first monthly food pantry, serving Laurel-area residents. The pantry provides a month’s worth of groceries to feed around 20 families each cycle, and it has quickly become a safe, welcoming space where students and families can find support without judgment. Through school-wide food drives, community partnerships, and local donations, we’ve created a unified effort to alleviate hunger.
Led by youth volunteers, Green Grove has partnered with local farms, food banks, and shelters to redistribute more than 24,000 pounds of fresh produce to over 250 individuals and families in need. By involving high school students directly in planning, volunteering, and leadership roles, we hope to inspire future leaders capable of meaningful change.
As we continue to grow, we are eager to connect with Laurel students interested in joining and supporting our mission. We hope to expand our school-based programs, strengthening our existing work in Laurel through partnerships, community events, and educational workshops. Whether volunteering, starting a chapter, or developing new community initiatives, we welcome anyone passionate about environmental advocacy, food awareness, and community wellbeing. We’re excited to collaborate with students, families, and schools with the shared goal of building a healthier, more nourished future.
