A remarkable student-led initiative is making waves across Dane County, with several current Rush Wisconsin players among its founding leaders. Middleton Meals Matter was launched by a dedicated group of students at Middleton High School—including Brooke Lister, Beatrice Norman, Nebil Siraj, and Noah Duckett—with a shared mission to tackle food insecurity in their community.

What began as a summer food drive in July 2024 has evolved into a thriving youth-led organization that has collected over 32,500 pounds of food and raised more than $20,000 for WayForward Resources, the local food pantry. By harnessing the power of social media and connecting with local leaders, the group has organized monthly food drives at grocery stores and inspired widespread community involvement.

Their impact doesn’t stop there. Middleton Meals Matter actively promotes youth volunteerism through presentations at local schools and by creating accessible opportunities for students to get involved in service. The organization recently expanded into a broader effort—Meals Matter—with new chapters launched at Vel Phillips Memorial and Madison West High School.

“To see our athletes recognize a problem in their community and take action to solve it is incredibly impressive,” said Executive Director Jess Nash. “At Rush, we strive to develop athletes who are not only active for life but also engaged citizens. Watching these players lead such meaningful work—and expand their impact beyond their own community—is truly inspiring. We are so proud of their leadership.”

Community members are encouraged to support the organization through monetary donations, monthly food drive contributions, or by giving directly to their own local food pantries. A drop off bin will be available at the Rush Community Game Night on April 21st from 6-7pm between Field 1 and Field 2 at HWY Q Rush Fields.

To learn more about Meals Matter, visit meals-matter.org or follow them on Instagram: @middletonmealsmatter and @meals.matterofficial.