Chesterfield teen collects 2,000 pounds of food donations for Feed More
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Chesterfield County teen, Austin Smoyer, has been making a difference in his community one can of food at a time. Every year, the now-15-year-old sophomore at James River High School leads a holiday food drive, collecting non-perishable items for Feed More. Friday, Dec. 20, marked Smoyer's 13th annual holiday food drive. What started as a simple act of kindness when he was just three years old has blossomed into an annual family tradition, collecting thousands of pounds of food for those in need. Austin Smoyer, 15, wheeling in donations Austin's mother, Ashley Smoyer, pictured in the middle Group photo of Smoyer's friends and family Smoyer and Dalton looking at donation numbers Pictured: Friends and family Smoyer reading out the number of donations A helper wheeling in donations "It just makes me feel great just knowing that I'm making a difference in the community, knowing that, like, I can help people out who don't have access to food or just can't get their hands on food in any way," Smoyer said. "I just know that I'm helping them out, giving them a meal." The idea for the food drive came from his mother, Ashley Smoyer, who wanted to instill in him the importance of giving back. "I was like, 'What better way to do that than through food?'" she said. What started with a few fliers and a red wagon has grown significantly over the years. Austin even appeared on the Rachael Ray Show in 2015, bringing further attention to his efforts. Every year around Thanksgiving, Austin and his friends and family distribute fliers throughout the community, collect donations and then deliver them to Feed More. This year Smoyer raised 2,006 pounds of food. He surpassed his goal, collecting enough food to provide meals for an estimated 1,600 people. "It's always a surprise to us how much food he brings, but it's always an amazing amazing thing to see," said Christy Dalton, Feed More Communications Manager. Dalton has witnessed Austin's dedication firsthand for the past 10 years. "This is part of who he is. It is ingrained in him," Dalton said. "He has a little sister waiting in the wings. When he [Smoyer] goes off to college, she's ready to take it over. And it is just part of what their family does." Smoyer doesn't plan on stopping the holiday food drive anytime soon and hopes it grows for years to come.
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Chesterfield County teen, Austin Smoyer, has been making a difference in his community one can of food at a time. Every year, the now-15-year-old sophomore at James River High School leads a holiday food drive, collecting non-perishable items for Feed More.
Friday, Dec. 20, marked Smoyer's 13th annual holiday food drive. What started as a simple act of kindness when he was just three years old has blossomed into an annual family tradition, collecting thousands of pounds of food for those in need.
Austin Smoyer, 15, wheeling in donations
Austin's mother, Ashley Smoyer, pictured in the middle
Group photo of Smoyer's friends and family
Smoyer and Dalton looking at donation numbers
Pictured: Friends and family
Smoyer reading out the number of donations
A helper wheeling in donations
"It just makes me feel great just knowing that I'm making a difference in the community, knowing that, like, I can help people out who don't have access to food or just can't get their hands on food in any way," Smoyer said. "I just know that I'm helping them out, giving them a meal."
The idea for the food drive came from his mother, Ashley Smoyer, who wanted to instill in him the importance of giving back.
"I was like, 'What better way to do that than through food?'" she said.
What started with a few fliers and a red wagon has grown significantly over the years. Austin even appeared on the Rachael Ray Show in 2015, bringing further attention to his efforts.
Every year around Thanksgiving, Austin and his friends and family distribute fliers throughout the community, collect donations and then deliver them to Feed More.
This year Smoyer raised 2,006 pounds of food. He surpassed his goal, collecting enough food to provide meals for an estimated 1,600 people.
"It's always a surprise to us how much food he brings, but it's always an amazing amazing thing to see," said Christy Dalton, Feed More Communications Manager.
Dalton has witnessed Austin's dedication firsthand for the past 10 years.
"This is part of who he is. It is ingrained in him," Dalton said. "He has a little sister waiting in the wings. When he [Smoyer] goes off to college, she's ready to take it over. And it is just part of what their family does."
Smoyer doesn't plan on stopping the holiday food drive anytime soon and hopes it grows for years to come.
