At 18, Aiden Gruby has spent over a decade turning compassion into action. He began volunteering with Feeding San Diego at six and was leading teams by ten, guiding thousands of volunteers. For his Eagle Scout project, he combined engineering and empathy to build an interactive donation machine that makes giving easy and fun. Now a college student, Aiden continues to inspire others, proving that creativity, leadership, and kindness can spark lasting change and that anyone, at any age, can make a real difference.
Age: 18
City/State: San Diego, CA
How It Started
When Aiden Gruby was six years old, he decided he didn’t want to just learn about helping people; he wanted to do something about it. So, he joined his parents to volunteer with Feeding San Diego, helping rescue and sort food so it could reach people facing hunger.
What began as a weekend activity quickly became something bigger. Aiden loved seeing how even a few hours of work could make a real difference. Over time, volunteering became part of who he was.
Growing Into Leadership
By the time Aiden turned ten, he wasn’t just volunteering; he was leading. Feeding San Diego noticed his energy, kindness, and focus, and asked him to become a Volunteer Team Leader, a role usually filled by adults.
Aiden helped guide other volunteers during Saturday shifts, showing them how to sort, pack, and prepare rescued food for distribution. These shifts often included more than 100 volunteers, and Aiden made sure everyone felt welcomed, safe, and confident in what they were doing.
He greeted people at check-in, answered questions, gave safety talks, and shared why food rescue matters. More than 20,000 volunteers have come through shifts Aiden helped lead!
“When I help other volunteers understand why food rescue matters,” Aiden said, “it feels like we’re multiplying the impact together.”
Clockwise from left to right: Aiden standing in front of his donation machine; Aiden and his dad, Scott; and Aiden receiving a Spud-tacular Award from Feeding San Diego volunteer coordinator Sarah Han.
Engineering a Way to Give Back
As Aiden got older, he started thinking about other ways to help Feeding San Diego. When it came time to choose an Eagle Scout project, he knew exactly what he wanted to do, combine his love of engineering with his passion for fighting hunger.
He designed and built a cash donation machine for Feeding San Diego’s lobby, a fun and interactive way for visitors to donate money that turns into meals for people who need them.
Aiden handled every step himself. He researched, drew up plans, built working models, and led a team of scouts to help construct and install the final design. It used vacuum tubes, sensors, and his own creativity to make giving exciting and easy.
After months of work, Aiden installed the donation machine in May 2021. Since then, it’s been used by countless visitors, and every dollar dropped in helps Feeding San Diego provide meals for local families.
“Aiden’s project captured his spirit,” said one staff member. “He wanted to make it easier for people to give, and that’s exactly what he did.”
Impact And Recognition
By the time he left for college, Aiden had completed more than 490 hours of service across 242 shifts, which is nearly half a year’s worth of volunteer time!
His creativity and compassion didn’t go unnoticed. In 2023, Aiden was recognized as one of San Diego’s 25 Most Remarkable Teens by the Office of the Primary Public Defender for his work as a “Food Justice Advocate.”
Now a college student, Aiden continues to inspire others to find their own way to help. His project was a symbol of what happens when creativity meets compassion, proof that innovation can fuel generosity and that one young person’s idea can spark lasting change. Whether he’s studying engineering or mentoring others, Aiden carries forward the same mission that started it all: using his talents to build a better, more connected world.
Hero Lessons:
- Start small: Even one hour of volunteering can make a difference.
- Be curious: Look for ways to combine your interests, like Aiden mixed engineering and empathy.
- Work together: Helping others multiplies the impact.
- Never underestimate your ideas: Big change can start with one person and one project.
