Student Heroes
High School students have the opportunity to impact the community while developing leadership and project management skills for the workforce.
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Upcoming Sessions:
– Fall 2025 : September 1st, 2025 to December 31st 2025*
– Spring 2026: January 19th, 2026 to May 17th, 2026
– Summer 1 Session: June 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2026
– Summer 2 Session: July 1st, 2026 to July 31st, 2026
*Fall 2025 will not be accepting new applications. Please read the Apply to be a Student Hero Tab for more information
Mission:
The Student Heroes Mission is to combat food insecurity by empowering high school students to lead and organize volunteer efforts at the Houston Food Bank. Through in-person and virtual service, students will develop leadership skills while helping food-insecure communities. The program fosters compassionate leaders who understand the challenges of hunger and are dedicated to creating sustainable solutions.
Expectations:
– Commit One Year of Service to experience the full project management training.
– Pass Side Job and Project Leader Certification Quizzes to assist Experience Team with community needs
– Develop lifelong professional skills to enhance job and college applications
Student Heroes are the support leaders for our traditional volunteer production area. Students are given a specific time frame, known as a session, to complete 50 volunteer hours on their own schedule. Most students volunteer a full Saturday twice a month but students are allowed to volunteer for any shift that Volunteer Services has available that does not contradict their school schedule. Student Heroes are broken up into 3 groups to offer detailed training for students depending on their knowledge and skill level and help to the Volunteer Services Department Experience Team according to community needs.
1. Welcome Crew
– Introductory crew for all Student Heroes
– Volunteer alongside regular volunteers and support project leaders by being a friendly and knowledgeable resource for new volunteers
– Attend workshops targeted towards personal development
2. Support Crew
– Students who pass the Side Job Certification Quizzes and other completion metrics may advance to this crew
– Lead Side Jobs in all projects and maintain safety standards in the project areas
– Shadow and assist project leaders in preparation to lead projects in the future
– Attend workshops targeted towards leadership development
3. Leader Crew
– Students who pass the project leader evaluations and other completion metrics may advance to the Leader Crew
– Lead and facilitate projects with supervision from experience leaders
– Train new students and work on specialized leadership tracks
– Access special volunteer opportunities within different departments
Student Hero Requirements:
– Must be at least 15 years of age and attend a High School in the 18 service county area of the Houston Food Bank.
– Must be able to commit 50 volunteer hours per session with 25 hours being completed by the middle of each session.
– Must have a personal email account and cell phone number.
– Must have a desire to grow their leadership skills and willing to take steps to improve.
– Must represent the Houston Food Bank and Student Hero program in a positive manner.
Student Hero Summer Session Exceptions:
– Rising 10th Graders are eligible to apply as long as they meet all the above criteria.
– Summer is broken into 2 sessions. Each session has a 30 hour volunteer requirement. If a student chooses to participate in a full summer session, they must have 30 hours by July 1st to maintain their membership.
Student Hero Benefits Include:
– Develop skills and gain real life experience
– Leadership and professional development workshops
– Student Hero t-shirt and name tag
– School Credit and hours verification letters
– Student Hero Certificate (at the end of each completed session)
– Letter of Recommendation (after 100 hours of service)
– Special events and recognition awards
– Rewarding feeling from fighting hunger
– Building long lasting friendships
– Being a vital member of the Houston Food Bank family!
Student Heroes Program – Application Update
Thank you for your interest in the Student Heroes Program. As we prepare for important program changes in 2025, we are pausing the onboarding of new Student Heroes at this time. This temporary pause allows us to focus on strengthening the program and supporting current members as we adjust to major changes in production flow.
Beginning October 1st, 2025, every student who has completed more than 12 volunteer hours between January 1st and October 31st, 2025 will be invited to apply for Spring Session 2026.
- Applications will only be sent to eligible students who meet the hour requirement. Your hours must be recorded on your Civicore Account.
- Applications cannot be requested.
- The deadline to submit the application is November 10th, 2025.
To ensure a high-quality training experience, all eligible students will be invited to apply, but only a limited number of applicants will be accepted. Students who go above the 12-hour minimum and use their application to clearly demonstrate strong work ethic and practical knowledge of food bank operations will have the best chance of being invited to Spring 2026 Orientation. Please review the orientation dates listed at the "Important Dates and Deadlines" tab.
To learn more about the Student Heroes Program, please explore this website or speak with a current Student Hero on the production floor about their experience.
Thank you for your commitment to service and your interest in growing as a leader.
General Session Timeline
Fall 2025
- Orientation (Returning Students Only): August 30, 2025
- Midway Mark: October 31, 2025
- Session Ends: December 31, 2025
Spring 2026
- Session Starts: January 19, 2026
- Midway Mark: March 19, 2026
- Session Ends: May 17, 2026
Summer 2026
- Summer 1 Session: June 1 – June 30, 2026
- Midway Mark for Full Summer Participation: June 30, 2026
- Summer 2 Session: July 1 – July 31, 2026
Orientation Dates
Spring 2026
- Returning Students: January 10, 2026
- New Students: January 17, 2026
Summer 2026
- Returning Students: May 23 or May 24, 2026
- New Students: May 30 or May 31, 2026
Orientation registration is required for all students.
– Returning students will register through the End-of-Session Application
– New students will register through a separate orientation form provided after acceptance
– Registration deadlines will be clearly communicated on the applicable forms
– Orientation is in-person only — no virtual options or make-up sessions are offered. Please plan accordingly.
Application Windows
- Spring 2026 Applications (New Students): Opens October 1st, 2025
- Summer 2026 Applications (New Students): Opens March 26, 2026
- Fall 2026 Applications (New Students): Opens June 20, 2026
Continuing to the Next Session
You do not need to reapply if you:
- Are an active Student Hero in the current session
- Complete the required hours
- Register and attend orientation for the upcoming session
To remain active, you must:
- Submit the End-of-Session Application, which includes orientation registration
- Submit it before the deadline communicated each session
Important:
The End-of-Session Application is required for all students, whether or not you're continuing.
This form:
- Confirms your crew placement (if continuing)
- Keeps the roster accurate
- Ensures you receive your End-of-Session Certificate
Failure to complete the form may result in removal from the roster and ineligibility for orientation or recognition.
Returning After an Inactive Period
If you're taking a break or pausing your participation, you're welcome to return — just follow the steps below:
Before stepping away:
Complete the End-of-Session Application and indicate that you'd like to return in a future session.
If you didn't submit the form or didn't express interest in returning:
You must email the Membership Chair to request a Returning Student Hero Orientation Application.
This application will assess:
- The last date you volunteered
- The crew you're interested in rejoining
- Your orientation registration date
- Whether you submitted your last End-of-Session Form
- What motivated you to return to the program
Important:
- Returning Student Orientation is in-person only — no virtual option is available
- You must be available on the designated date — no make-up sessions are offered
Student Hero Email: studentheroes@houstonfoodbank.org