Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1283918
Todd Sondgroth and Amber Phillips started the Change a Heart Foundation which raises money for homelessness and provides groceries and laptops to children. SHORTCUTS GIVING BACK Change a Hear t Foundation Helps Those in Need B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D U pon seeing society's ills, many shrug their shoulders, say "nothing I can do about it" and go about their business. Luckily, a rare few roll up their sleeves and go to work. Todd Sondgroth is among the latter. When he saw homelessness, he staged "sleep outs," purposely living on the streets until $10,000 was raised to benefit homeless pro- grams. Five times. When he saw people having difficulty obtaining food during the COVID-19 crisis, Sondgroth enlisted the help of produce firms like Taylor Farms and Fresh from D'Vine and a small army of drivers to distribute gro- ceries to around 5,000 families each week. He calculates that they've provided 300,000 meals so far. When he saw underserved, suddenly home-bound students lacking computers and internet access, he launched a drive to put 100 laptops in the hands of those kids. Sondgroth and his wife Amber Phillips creat- ed the Change a Heart Foundation to address these and other needs, including providing safe drinking water to developing nations. "As soon as the virus hit, I felt that econom- ically, people were going to get crushed," he says. "I try to go where I feel in my heart I can do the most good." To learn more, visit www.changeaheart.org. 72 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 2 0 Photo:Kelli Uldall