When a group of local high school students saw rising food insecurity in their community, they decided to take action. This summer, Hand in Hand We Grow (HHWG), a student-led nonprofit dedicated to providing free educational camps and classes to local kids, turned their passion for learning into a way to feed hungry classmates by raising funds for the Lake Washington Schools Foundation’s Pantry Packs program.
From Students to Teachers
The story of HHWG is one of students lifting each other up. Many of the current leaders first discovered their love for coding years ago when they themselves attended free classes offered by the same organization, formerly known as Hand in Hand We Code. “I wrote my first line of code in 4th grade through the free classes offered by Hand in Hand We Code,” recalled Club President Eric Huang, a sophomore at Eastlake High School. “Many of my teammates shared the same beginning, which motivated us to revive the organization in 2024. By giving back, we hope to empower more kids to discover coding just like we did.”
What started as a single Scratch coding camp has grown into a vibrant program run by 27 student volunteers across seven local schools. Today, the group is powered by passionate high school volunteers and operates as part of the AYLUS Lake Washington Branch, connecting them with a larger network of service-minded youth. With their mission growing beyond coding to include classes in math, science, art, and more, the organization rebranded this year as Hand in Hand We Grow (HHWG).
Free Camps with a Purpose
In Summer 2025, HHWG hosted five free weeklong camps in Python, Java, AMC10 math, Physics, and 3D Modeling. Each camp was proposed and led by a student volunteer, who designed curricula, built PowerPoint lessons, and recruited peers as teaching assistants. “We saw an average of 25 registrations per camp, totaling over 120 registrations,” Eric shared. “Through these camps, students explored coding languages, sharpened math and science skills, and even created their first 3D modeling projects.”
The camps remained free to ensure every student, regardless of financial situation, could participate. “Looking online, many classes came with a heavy price tag, but that shouldn’t be a barrier to learning,” Eric explained.
Connecting Learning to Hunger Relief
While education was at the heart of their work, HHWG wanted to give back in another way. Inspired by the challenges local families face with rising food costs, the students added an optional donation for families who enrolled in their free camps. All proceeds would go directly to Pantry Packs, which provides weekend food bags for more than 1,100 Lake Washington School District students each week.
The result: $350 raised—enough to provide 50 Pantry Packs. “We learned that food insecurity is closer than we thought. It could affect a friend, a classmate, or anybody in the community,” Eric said. “It feels awesome and rewarding knowing our work made a real difference for local students.”
Inspiring Others to Take Action
The students hope their story sparks more community support for Pantry Packs. “Every small act of kindness counts,” they said. “It could help a classmate, a kid on your bus, or a neighbor. However small a contribution may seem, they add up!”
HHWG plans to continue weaving service into their work, from fundraising for community causes to launching environmental and cultural projects. Their message is clear: students have the power to make a difference—for themselves and for each other.
Learn More
To learn more about Hand in Hand We Grow, visit handinhandwegrow.org.
And to join them in supporting local, food-insecure students, visit our Pantry Packs page. This year, we expect to deliver over 36,000 Pantry Packs to more than 1,100 students. And it will take $320,000 to make it happen. Together, we can ensure every student returns to school nourished, ready to learn, and able to thrive.
