Page 93 - Iris Tennessee Teen Judges Book 2022

What can you do during your Tenure of Service as a Titleholder to impact your community? I will use my platform as a titleholder to raise awareness for a local food drive, “Stella’s Pantry”. “Stella’s Pantry” helps feed those in need that often have to make a choice between purchasing food or purchasing medications in my community each month. I will use this opportunity to volunteer my efforts to help organize, purchase, and distribute any goods to those in need. I will use social media to help notify the community of various places around the county to take any canned foods and nonperishable items for donation. I will help collect items for “Stella’s Pantry” online auction with proceeds going to the purchasing of the food to be distributed.
What has been your involvement with your platform? I have helped load and distribute over 120 boxes of food to those in my community in need. I’ve made numerous donations to our local food pantry which supplies “Stella’s Pantry”. I’ve brought it to others' attention that were able, to donate canned goods themselves.
What inspired you to first become involved in your platform? I was inspired to become involved in helping fight hunger after seeing how many members of my community truly needed the support of “Stella’s Pantry”. I was moved by how many additional families were not able to receive any boxes due to limited supplies. I knew more awareness needed to be given so more families could receive aid and rally those in my community to help fight hunger.
If you are selected as the winner, how would you mobilize and market your platform nationally? If selected I will utilize my platform to shine a light on the rising 11.8% hunger rate in the United States. I will share how the economy has affected the poverty line, making nutritional food even harder to receive. On top of the rising economy, the global pandemic Covid-19 has caused the demand for food to rise resulting in food shortages and price inflations. By using my platform I will inform those in my community that they too can help America’s fight against hunger locally by donating canned goods and showing support for the volunteers who dedicate their time for Stella’s Pantry.
How would you utilize social media in order to positively further your position as a titleholder if you are selected as the winner? I will utilize this position to show how pageantry is such a great way of building yourself while fighting for a great cause. I will showcase how pageantry builds great leadership skills, boosts self-confidence, and helps build women up for a better future for our next generation. I will lead by example and give others around me the hope that if you dream it, you can achieve it.