Bringing food, promise and hope to those who need it most
Passion for Impact and Commitment to Action
Raising Funds, Awareness & Exploring Solutions for Food Insecurity
100% proceeds donated | Impact:70,000 meals| Articles
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2020 - FOUNDING YEAR
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MISSION
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Inspired by the challenges of the pandemic, Zara Syed founded Good Intentions in 2020 to combat hunger. Our mission is guided by United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 2 :Zero Hunger - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture . We do this by holding food drives, distributions and rescuing food, education and awareness, fundraising and workshops, and promoting sustainable farming.​​
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Our mission is to combat food insecurity and promote social equity. We achieve this by raising awareness and funds through informative sessions, creative programs, the sale of customized products, and active community involvement.
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Meet Zara Syed
Zara Syed is a Sophomore at Newark Academy with a strong passion for social entrepreneurship and problem-solving in food insecurity. Inspired by the challenges of the pandemic, she founded Good Intentions in 2020, a non-profit initiative dedicated to combating hunger and promoting social equity.. Through customized product sales, fundraising, community engagement, and awareness programs, she has raised over $7,000—equivalent to 70,000 meals—to support hunger-relief organizations.
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Beyond fundraising. Zara has authored over 25 articles on food insecurity and interviewed influential figures in the field, including Kaitlin McGuinness (Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Cory Booker), Dr. Phillip R. Smith (Assistant Dean at Rutgers University),among others. As an active member of the Model Congress Club and participation in prestigious conferences and programs at coveted institutions like Yale, Penn and Columbia University, she has engaged in critical discussions on issues like housing and food security.
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An avid soccer player since age four, Zara plays midfield for the STA club and Newark Academy’s varsity team, bringing leadership and team work to her volunteering efforts. Her most fulfilling role is volunteering at organizations fighting hunger, where she directly engages with individuals benefiting from its support. These interactions reaffirm her passion for creating a meaningful impact and strengthening communities through food security initiatives.
Visit Good Intentions to view my products and learn how you can join me in my mission.
Back Story
(2020) Looking around me, I recognize and am grateful for every moment of my life. I am constantly reminded of how fortunate I am to have a home, a supply of food, and most importantly, a supportive family. As I bathe in a cornucopia of lavish assets, I cannot forget there are many people who don't have the privilege of living the life that I live. Since the onset of COVID-19, people who may have been struggling have problems amplified due to financial loss. They are unfairly deprived of their right to smile. Through creativity and love, I hope I can spread those smiles again.
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On a cloudy evening in 2020, just an average day after a tiring soccer practice, I sat down on the couch in our living room, determined to find a way to contribute to the community that had granted me so much. I pondered deeply until I realized the answer had always been right in my heart for so long. The Interfaith Food Pantry that I passed every week for the past six years every time I attended soccer practice was the perfect place. I eagerly asked Senora Beer, my world languages teacher and lead community service representative, at my school if I could volunteer. Unfortunately, there was an age limit, but she told me that I could use my talent to create and sell handcrafted cards and donate the money directly to the food bank.
Yes, this was a brilliant idea! (Handmade cards I had intended to make for our school fundraiser last year before the pandemic hit). With approval and support of Senora Beer, I knew in both my heart and my head that no matter the obstacles I faced, I was gradually going to make small changes in a massive world. My first foray of victory was at a faculty meeting at school in January 2021. All the cards I created were sold for a total of $100 , and this was my first successful donation to the Interfaith Food Pantry. This small receipt was an acknowledgement of my success. It didn't hold too many words, but all the encouragement I could get. I knew from that day on, I could make an impact in this world card by card, smile by smile.
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Together We Can Make a Difference!