Motivated by a strong sense of community and service, and exhibiting exceptional leadership skills, Lake Oswego Sophomore Michael Murray is leading the charge to eliminate hunger in Lake Oswego. While Michael Murray acknowledges hunger is often an invisible issue in his district, his research indicates that 1 in 10 Lake Oswego students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. Michael first grew concerned with hunger faced by his community while in 6th grade at Lake Oswego Junior High School. He took action by founding Hunger Fighters, a club that ran food drives. Throughout his tenure at the junior high, the club grew to 20 students and collected enough money to provide an estimated 10,000 meals to hungry Oregon families.
Michael credits his 6th grade social studies teacher Ms. Feuer with providing the advice and support he needed to make the club a success.
In 2016, Michael evolved the project by establishing a food pantry and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the help of the school district and volunteers from the Rotary Club of Lake Oswego.
“You need four components to start a food pantry. You need a location, funding, volunteers and a need in the community.”
Lake Oswego School District provided a location for the pantry at Lakeridge Junior High School. Rotary Club volunteers stepped up to assist with incorporation paperwork, record keeping and legal review. The Hunger Fighters’ pantry is now open every Saturday to serve the Lake Oswego community.
Michael Murray is the first person to say that Hunger Fighters is the result of many student and volunteer efforts. Yet it was Michael’s vision and drive that brought so many people together to fight hunger. Michael will be a junior this year at Lake Oswego High School, and he’s expanding Hunger Fighters with a new pantry at Marylhurst University this fall. Another pantry is in the planning stages for the SW Portland corridor near PCC. “We’re just starting a major fundraising campaign push to raise $60,000 for the new pantries,” says Michael. “But we will move forward with our plans as we fundraise. I want to keep the momentum going.”
Want to learn how to start a food club or a pantry at your school? Michael Murray is happy to share his knowledge with other students and teachers. To get in touch with Michael, email hungerfightersoregon@gmail.com.
