Hey y’all!

With the Biden administration speeding up our national vaccine rollout, daylight savings giving us an extra hour of daylight, and spring weather around the corner, there’s plenty to be hopeful about.

And yet, the fatigue of the pandemic is real. Same with the stress of school. And...fill in the blank with whatever else is making life feel like a slog. But the good news is, we’ve got you. Here are self-care tips for remote learning, our student-powered mental health guide, and your game plan for a super relaxing and rewarding staycation if your spring break plans are a no go.

Hang in there, and be sure to give yourself extra patience, kindness, and love this week. I’m sending plenty of that your way.

Let’s Do This,

Ben, Editor-in-chief

DoSomething members with their food item donations

Tackle Hunger: How DoSomething Members Are Fighting Food Insecurity Nationwide

The food inequality crisis has worsened as a result of the pandemic, putting up to 50 million Americans at risk of food insecurity. COVID-19 has highlighted and exacerbated many of our country’s racial inequities, as studies show Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and immigrant households face the highest rates of hunger.

That’s why the DoSomething community has donated over 163,978 food items since January through our Tackle Hunger campaign. Meet a few incredible members below.

With unemployment on the rise in Clay County, West Virginia, Timothy’s local food pantry was in dire need of extra support. Timothy donated 262 food items and helps with meal distribution every month.

DoSomething member Catherine, 17, teamed up with friends to begin Compañeros de Comida, which benefits families in Red Bank, New Jersey, who are predominately Latinx. They even partnered with a local grocery store to deliver food and have fed over 100 families so far.

“What began as a small food drive in a front yard has led to changing the lives of local families and I could not be more honored to be a part of it,” Catherine says.

DoSomething member Ajani, 15, gathered food and monetary donations from 14 of his family members to benefit the local Salvation Army in Georgia. “This is important to me because it gives the chance to give food to those who can’t get it themselves,” he says.

Even just a few items make a massive difference for a family in need. Learn how to join our community and Tackle Hunger.

DoSomething members like Carlos, Rachel, and Skye

DoSomething Members Tell Cigarettes To GTFO: Get The Filter Out

With 4.5 trillion discarded each year, cigarette butts are the most-littered item on the planet and the single greatest source of ocean trash. They’re also toxic to aquatic life, dangerous to humans, and have been linked to deadly wildfires.

That’s why, a few years ago, DoSomething members like Carlos, Rachel, and Skye helped our community pick up over 3.7 million cigarette butts.

Now, the campaign is BACK. Learn how to get started and tell cigarette butts to GTFO: Get The Filter Out.

Get Started

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More Amazing Impact From the DoSomething Community!

We asked you to brag about the amazing stuff you’re doing, and you did not disappoint. Here are some of our favorite answers from the DoSomething community. (Psst...submit yours here!)

“I'm a Latina with Spanish as my first language, so I know the struggle of moving somewhere they speak another language. This week I started tutoring Spanish speaking kids that moved to the U.S.! I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and to help others dealing with the same situation I dealt last year!”

- DoSomething member Paola, 16, Florida

“I recently was selected for two scholarships: Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. and Pharmacists Mutual.”

- DoSomething member Steven, 24, Illinois

“I started a Study Abroad Club to help get students who normally would not get the chance to study abroad the opportunity.”

- DoSomething member Zachary, 16, Virginia