About Me: Benjamin Cha

I am a 17-year-old first-honor roll student at Bergen Catholic High School. I am passionate about learning about health and public policy through articles and podcasts.

I am also passionate about running and music. I have won numerous music competitions and is the principal cellist of the string ensemble Friends with Music.

I am a dedicated runner, competing in cross country and indoor and outdoor track. A significant milestone is my team's winning the State Championship for cross country, and I have participated in varsity events throughout the season.

I am committed to serving my community. I volunteer to tutor young children in Paterson once a week and perform concerts at nursing homes in the Bergen County area.

Nourish Children Today and Advocate for Their Tomorrow

Story

After some time volunteering with NewCityKids in Paterson, I noticed many differences, but one of the similarities was the number of obese children.

This showed me that obesity and lack of nutritional education do not discriminate between neighborhoods. I see the same number of obese people among my peers and at my school. But the difference is the accessibility of nutritional food.

So, the EatSmart Project’s goal is to provide the less fortunate with healthier food and better alternatives to help combat the obesity problem in all neighborhoods.

Mission

Our mission is to provide healthy snacks and fun nutrition education to underserved kids while empowering the public to urge elected officials to protect and strengthen child nutrition programs like WIC, school meals, and summer food assistance.

Action

We meet an immediate need by providing healthy snacks and nutrition education to children who may not have regular access during the summer or after school.

Advocacy

We are working to prevent and solve the root causes of child hunger and malnutrition long-term by calling for stronger support for public nutrition programs (like WIC, school meals, summer food service programs, etc.). I would set this up on my website, and a good example can be found here:

What will be included in the kit?

Healthy snacks include fruit (apple or small orange), nut-free granola bars, fruit snacks, or trail mix.

What makes the kit different from others?

It’s more than just food—it’s education. Each kit includes a healthy snack and a fun, age-appropriate activity (like a coloring page, matching game, or “Build Your Plate” worksheet) that helps children learn about nutrition and smart food choices in an engaging way.

It empowers not just kids, but families and communities. Inside every kit is a take-home flyer with simple tips for caregivers, plus a QR code that links to an advocacy tool. Families can email their local representatives to support programs like WIC, school meals, and summer food assistance with one click.