The 2025-2026 school year marked the inaugural year of the Hands of Hope (HOH) Youth Ambassadors Program (YAP) at Edison High School. Founded in the summer of 2025 by Chris Saavedra ‘26, what began as a hopeful vision to increase involvement at the food pantry quickly turned into a prominent and enduring community service force across Middlesex County.

On October 6, 2025, the program made its first appearance at the annual Edison High activity fair. There, YAP’s president Saavedra and HOH president Charles Tomaro outlined their mission of community service to the group of returning Eagles. Two days later, Saavedra, Tomaro, and YAP’s vice president Kayen Lo ‘26 hosted an official information session in the EHS cafeteria to explain the program’s history and answer any questions from prospective members.

YAP’s first Saturday distribution took place on October 18. During this foundational month, the group established its Instagram page and built connections with existing Edison High organizations, specifically the Spanish National Honor Society (SNHS) and the Rotary Club, to recruit student volunteers.

“I launched the program because I saw a lack of Edison High School volunteer representation at the pantry,” Saavedra said. “Now, EHS students are the majority population of HOH volunteers.”

November focused heavily on securing the program’s foothold within the EHS community. At their second event on November 1, volunteers were introduced to EHS alumnus and volunteer coordinator Kush Patel ‘14. The program’s efforts to promote its cause through the SNHS and Rotary classrooms paid off at the Thanksgiving distribution on November 22, 2025. It was one of the busiest days of the year, with 15 dedicated EHS students helping to serve over 350 families.

December proved to be a major turning point in student interest and popularity. The month was defined by the Eagles Against Hunger Initiative, an effort that brought in over 20 volunteers from EHS, SNHS, and Rotary clubs to help out at the Christmas distribution on December 20, 2025. Having served over 300 families, the event stood out as a highlight for high seasonal engagement.

As the program grew, the founders realized the necessity of organizing an official student board. In January of this year, with graduation nearing, Saavedra and Lo interviewed six of their most consistent EHS volunteers. They ultimately selected Ann-Marie Gonzalez ‘28 as secretary and Rishitha Jambula ‘27 as marketing director to share the workload and ensure the program’s longevity at the school.

“The program’s growth since it started in January has been so amazing! With the addition of two new board members, we were able to host our first service activity and make sure our records were kept efficiently,” said Gonzalez. “Interacting with clients and building connections has made me the most proud this year. Seeing them smile every morning and getting to have small talk is always my favorite part of this process.”

While freezing temperatures forced the cancellation of volunteer recruitment for the February 7 distribution, the month still sparked one of the program’s most beloved traditions. On February 6, 2026, YAP hosted its first independent peanut butter and jelly sandwich-making event. Nearly a dozen EHS volunteers gathered to create PB&J sandwiches for weekend distributions, an initiative so successful that it is planned to continue throughout the summer.

Continuing the momentum of independent service events, volunteers met on March 18, 2026, for a St. Patrick’s Day “Pot of Gold” activity. Attendees came together to assemble 60 boxes of chocolate gold coins, which were a hit for the children of community members during the March 21st distribution.

The program’s ability to stand on its own at Edison High was solidified in April with a school-wide Hygiene Drive. From April 20 to 24, 2026, donation boxes placed in the EHS main lobby and the Spanish wing collected essential goods donated by students and staff. The drive gathered toothbrushes, toilet paper, soap, and hand sanitizers to bridge the gap in everyday items that the pantry faced. Volunteers then assembled 60 care packages on April 29, 2026, to hand out at the May 2nd distribution.

“The moment I was most proud of the program and of our volunteers was during our Hygiene Drive in April,” said Saavedra. “The turnout and support we received were beyond my wildest dreams. The compassion, commitment, and enthusiasm from the EHS community warmed my heart and made it evident to everyone that we could continue to hold similar events on a large scale.”

Instead of hosting another service event in May, the focus shifted to selecting the Youth Ambassadors board for the 2026-2027 school year. Promoted widely on Instagram and Google Classroom, the two-step application process attracted almost 20 EHS applicants, with a select few advancing to joint interviews with the current board.

Incoming secretary Jerry Chu ‘28, who accumulated over 60 hours of service after his first six months in the program, emphasized the dual impact the initiative has on both the community and the volunteers themselves.

“The Hands of Hope program is such an incredible opportunity for everyone. It allows us as students to not just socialize, but be able to practice our communication skills and grow as individuals, giving us a sense of pride,” said Chu. “My hope for the future is to expand the program’s influence on all who are involved. More specifically, pushing out more advertising not only to potential clients but also to students as well.”

Looking back on the long journey since the summer, current Vice President Kayen Lo ‘26 is amazed by the program’s evolution and the dedication of the EHS student body.

“Participation has grown a lot since we started the program, a lot more cooperation, and the community aspect has definitely grown a lot as well,” said Lo. “It really is a heartwarming experience to see so many people get together just for one goal of giving food to those in need. Now that we have laid the foundation, the future board and volunteers have the tools to do even more than what we have accomplished so far.”

As he prepares for the end-of-year celebration on June 12, 2026, which marks the end of his term and his retirement from the YAP, Saavedra shares a similar sentiment about passing the torch to the next generation of Eagles.

“This program has been my baby; it has been my pride and joy for so long, and I hope it will grow into something larger than myself,” said Saavedra. “I hope that they will build upon the groundwork Kayen and I have laid, continuing to lead by example and providing more volunteering opportunities for EHS students to give back to the community.”