Bianca Palumbo

Bianca Palumbo provides services to homeless individuals. Palumbo, a senior at Melrose High School located in Melrose, Massachusetts, coordinates a teens for jeans drive.

Through research, Palumbo discovered more than a million teenagers in the United States are homeless. One of the most desired items they ask for is jeans.

An avid volunteer, Palumbo created 100 posters and fliers to distribute throughout her community and placed drop boxes at local schools, libraries, and grocery stores. In addition, she implemented a social media campaign to inform community members about the project and encouraged them to donate jeans at the drop box locations.

In the midst of her running the jean drive, Palumbo’s home caught fire in January 2014. She and her family lost everything. Despite being displaced to a family member’s home, she did not miss a beat and continues to operate the teens for jeans drive.

Palumbo’s goal is to collect and donate as many pairs of jeans and distribute them to various shelters across the nation.