Local Girl Scout Tackles Food Waste Through Innovative Gold Award Project During National Nutrition Month
In recognition of National Nutrition Month, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri is proud to celebrate the impactful work of Adeline Law, a senior at Francis Howell Central High School, who has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award by addressing food waste and food insecurity within her school community.
Adeline’s project, FoodForThought, shines a light on a growing national issue: food waste in schools. Across the United States, schools discard an estimated 530,000 tons of food each year, waste that carries both environmental consequences and missed opportunities to support those facing hunger. Motivated to take action, Adeline partnered with school administrators, cafeteria staff, and custodial teams to better understand how food was being handled and wasted at her school. What she discovered was not a lack of care, but a lack of systems.
In response, she designed and implemented a sustainable food recovery and redistribution program within the cafeteria. Clearly labeled collection bins were placed near trash stations, allowing students to donate unopened, uneaten items such as fruit, milk, and packaged foods. These items are then made available to peers who may need an extra meal or snack during the school day or after activities.
“During National Nutrition Month, we are reminded that access to nutritious food matters, but so does how we value and use the food we already have,” said Adeline. “This project is about making sure good food does not go to waste when it could support someone in our own community.”
Beyond implementation, Adeline focused on education and long-term behavior change. Through flyers, social media campaigns, and peer engagement, students gained a deeper understanding of sustainability, food insecurity, and their role in reducing waste. What began as a simple system quickly became a cultural shift within the school.
Participation in the food redistribution program grew steadily, with students independently using collection bins and contributing to a more mindful cafeteria environment. On average, approximately eight pounds of food are redistributed each month, directly supporting students and staff in need. Surveys conducted as part of the project showed that more than 80 percent of students recognized food waste as an important issue and expressed a desire to reduce it.
“I wanted to create something that would last beyond me,” Adeline added. “By building a system and involving other students, especially girls interested in STEM, we are not only reducing waste, we are proving that we can solve real problems in our community.”
To ensure sustainability, Adeline founded a GirlsinSTEM chapter at her school, which has grown to more than 30 members. Through this group, students take ownership of the program while gaining hands-on experience in problem solving, leadership, and STEM-based applications. Members have developed confidence in applying analytical and organizational skills to real-world challenges while reinforcing that they belong in spaces where innovation and leadership intersect.
Adeline also established clear protocols, trained underclassmen, and secured ongoing support from school staff to ensure the program continues after her graduation. By embedding the initiative within both school operations and a student-led organization, she created a lasting model that can be replicated across the Francis Howell School District and beyond.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor in Girl Scouting, recognizing girls who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable community impact. Through FoodForThought, Adeline Law is not only reducing waste, she is nourishing her community and inspiring the next generation of changemakers.
For more details on Girl Scouts Highest Awards, visit girlscoutsem.org/highestawards.
