Two SHS Students Supply Nut-Free Food to Food Pantries

Matthew Nussbaum and Ryan Camhi, founders of Safe BitesWhat to do if your kids have food allergies but you rely on food pantries to feed your family?

Two Scarsdale High School juniors, who suffer from food allergies of their own, recognized the need for nut free alternatives at national food panties and formed an organization called Safe Bites to address it.

Matthew Nussbaum and Ryan Camhi have been friends since second grade when they bonded over their love of ice hockey and their common allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. Fast forward ten years and the boys have started a non-profit dedicated to fostering health and inclusivity by establishing allergy-friendly sections in food pantries across Westchester County as well as pantries in Orlando, Florida affected by hurricane Milton and in California in support of the wildfires.

Through fundraising efforts, Safe Bites has raised over $2000 to donate food to pantries in Westchester including Church of the Holy Spirit Food Pantry, Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry, Allen Memorial Church, Eastchester Community Action Program, Community Pantry of Sleepy Hollow, Horseman’s Harvest, Westside Food Bank, Operation Hope Food Pantry, Kol Ami Food Pantry and more.

In between their homework and sports schedules, the boys spend a couple of afternoons a week as well as on weekends, unpacking their various food deliveries and then re-packing up and driving to drop off at the various local pantries.

They have two events coming up in support of Safe Bites; Look for them at the Mitzvah Fair at Westchester Reform Temple in late April and Non-Sibi day at Scarsdale High School in May where Safe Bites will lead students in making homemade allergy-free granola bars which will then be delivered to pantries.

Find out more at safebiteswestchester@gmail.com.