From Our Kohyang to Yours: A Food Donation Partnership with Copia

For this year's Earth Day, we reflect on how small, consistent actions can create meaningful change for our planet and our communities. At Bright Star, one of those actions is making sure good food does not go to waste. Bright Star Schools is proving our shared humanity can produce a better shared Earth by partnering with Copia for food donations!

Across our schools, surplus meals are being redirected to local nonprofits instead of landfills through our partnership with Copia, supported by LA County Public Health’s Care First funding. Copia helps turn excess food into meals for families, shelters, and community organizations across Los Angeles. By easing food insecurity, this effort also helps members of our kohyang focus on health, housing, and employment. Together, Bright Star Schools, Copia, and LA County are making a difference for people and the planet!

This effort is rooted in the everyday work of our Operations teams and cafeteria staff who coordinate donations, manage logistics, and ensure food is safely shared. Their work often happens behind the scenes, yet its impact is felt far beyond our campuses. According to Luis Estrada, Director of School Operations & Facilities at Bright Star Schools, it is also a reflection of our commitment to responsible practices under California SB 1383, ensuring that we reduce organic waste while serving our community.

This is what Ubuntu looks like in action. Our shared humanity calls us to care for one another, and through this partnership, that care extends from our campuses into the broader community.

We are especially proud of Valor Academy Middle School, whose team, led by their Dean of Operations, Delma Rosales, produced 89 donations, showing what is possible through consistency and commitment. Way to go, Valor Middle!

We celebrate the work our schools are doing to build a brighter and more sustainable future for the next generation! We are especially grateful to our staff, partners, and community members who make this work possible. Together, we continue to turn everyday actions into lasting impact!