Pandemic Superstars

Hospitals across the country struggled to keep supplies on the shelves last year. Rural hospitals were hit especially hard. That’s why TJ Kim started Operation SOS—Supplies Over the Skies. The 17-year-old uses his pilot’s license to fly donated personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks to local hospitals in need. 

As of press time, he’s been on 24 missions! “I still remember the gratitude I could see in the hospital workers on my first delivery,” he says. “That’s been the driving force to keep me going.”

Last year was difficult for hospitals across the country. Doctors didn’t have enough supplies. It was especially hard for rural hospitals. That’s why TJ Kim started Operation SOS—Supplies Over the Skies. TJ is 17 years old. He has a pilot’s license. He collects donations of personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment includes gloves and masks. TJ flies the equipment to local hospitals that need it.

TJ has been on 24 missions as of press time! “I still remember the gratitude I could see in the hospital workers on my first delivery,” he says. “That’s been the driving force to keep me going.”

When the Covid-19 pandemic caused her community to shut down, Maya Shukla was stuck at home with nothing to do. So she started baking! The 12-year-old challenged herself to make one new recipe every day and share her results on her website, “The Bored Baker.” 

Maya uses her platform to inspire others to stay positive through hobbies. She calls it the “Bored Revolution.” “Don’t be afraid to try something new,” she says. “The more you do it, the more you’ll grow.”

The Covid-19 pandemic caused Maya Shukla’s community to shut down. Maya was stuck at home. She had nothing to do. So she started baking! Maya is 12 years old. She challenged herself to make one new recipe every day. She shared her results on her website. Her website is called “The Bored Baker.”

Maya uses her platform to inspire others. She wants people to stay positive by doing more hobbies. She calls it the “Bored Revolution.” “Don’t be afraid to try something new,” she says. “The more you do it, the more you’ll grow.”

Last March, Israel Smith’s coding class challenged students to create a video game about real-world events. Israel chose to focus his on fighting Covid-19. “I created it as something to get your mind off what’s going on,” he says. 

In his remix of the game Space Impact, players have 30 seconds to shoot at colorful, animated “Corona Virus” monsters. The seventh-grader hopes the fun of the game will help kids de-stress.

Israel Smith took a class last March that taught him about computer coding. Israel’s teacher challenged the students to create a video game. The video game needed to be about things that were happening in the real world. Israel focused his game on fighting Covid-19. “I created it as something to get your mind off what’s going on,” he says.

Israel made a remix of the game Space Impact. Israel’s game lasts for 30 seconds. Players shoot at “Corona Virus” monsters. The monsters are animated and colorful. Israel is in seventh grade. He hopes that the fun of his game will help kids feel less stressed.

At the start of the pandemic, a group of teens in Potomac, Maryland, created Teens Helping Seniors. It’s a grocery delivery service for people at high risk of catching Covid-19. Since then, the group has become a national organization. 

As national coordinator, 16-year-old Ria Garg has worked with teens across the United States and Canada to help them create their own branches. She’s also delivered some groceries herself. “Seniors are often conflicted: Do I eat, or do I worry about my health?” Ria explains. “That’s something no one, anywhere, should have to worry about.”

A group of teens created a grocery delivery service at the start of the pandemic. The teens all lived in in Potomac, Maryland. The service is called Teens Helping Seniors. Teens who work with Teens Helping Seniors deliver groceries to people who have a high risk of catching and getting sick from Covid-19. The group has become a national organization.

Ria Garg is national coordinator for Teens Helping Seniors. She is 16 years old. Ria works with teens across the United States and Canada. She helps teens create their own branches of Teens Helping Seniors. Ria has also delivered some groceries herself. “Seniors are often conflicted: Do I eat, or do I worry about my health?” Ria explains. “That’s something no one, anywhere, should have to worry about.”