Two years ago, the world was changed forever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As society reaches this dreadful second anniversary, people often lose sight of everyone else around them. The world has been separated and struggling for far too long, and the community is in need. Before the pandemic, and especially now. PE teacher James Voyles asked his class of Junior Leaders how exactly they could make a difference in the community, and that question inspired one student in particular to do just that.    

Junior Jack Repak has created an idea that will involve the community and directly help them. They call it a ‘Collaborative Cookbook.’ The premise is a monthly cookbook, sent out to RMHS families, that will include

“a resource of high yield, low budget, quick recipes from our own community,” Repak said. The goal is to “encourage working families to more consistently put food on the table.”

The idea is a really unique way to make a difference. You may wonder, how exactly this cookbook is different from one you can find online? Well, the idea is to compile recipes submitted straight from the RMHS community. Jack has already sent out a google form in hopes that people will send in their own family recipes. By doing so, these recipes will be unique and personal to the RMHS families themselves.

“The cookbook is a window into the life of your neighbor, a sample of your community’s memories,” Repak said, “We can learn more about each other just by cooking dinner for our families.”

The idea is much more than just bringing the community together, although we sure do need it after the separation caused by the pandemic. With the cookbook, Repak hopes to help working families feed their households with “fast, inexpensive, and most importantly possible options.” Additionally, Repak believes their cookbook will help some students perform better in school.

“Food is fuel, and fuel powers everything, even the brain,” Repak said, “When students have more reliable access to good food, they perform better in school.” So not only will they be bringing the community together and helping fill stomachs, but they may also be able to boost grades.

Making a change like this is such an important task, and with this idea, Repak has excelled.

“There are a lot of people who are in need, and when you have the ability to improve someone’s life, it’s important to do it,” fellow Junior Leader, Sara Pilkalti said.

There are so many issues plaguing people’s lives, and ideas such as these are so important, especially now.

“I can’t cure COVID, I can’t end wars, I can’t resolve poverty, but I can encourage change,” Repak said.

It is so easy to feel hopeless nowadays, but Repak never let that affect their hope to make a difference.    

“Great ideas come from the kids who are most invested,” Voyles said, “if you don’t make those around you better, then you’re not getting any better.”

It’s hard to find students as willing as Jack to help the community, but when they are given the resources to do so, great change is made. Society is struggling, and it’s up to the people to help it. If everyone could find some of Jack’s inspiration, a huge difference could be made.