A group of young local entrepreneurs organized a food drive in Colorado Springs on Friday to assist families impacted by the recent government shutdown.

The initiative was led by Gio Bishop-Falu, the 10-year-old founder and CEO of CEO Squeeze. He stated that his motivation was to help other children in the community who might be experiencing food shortages.

Several other youths participated in the effort, including 11-year-old Anthony Aliaga and his 9-year-old sister, Micaela. Anthony Aliaga mentioned that he was initially uncertain about the project but quickly became excited to contribute. Micaela Aliaga described her role in the shopping process, which involved comparing prices to ensure they could purchase as many items as possible.

The Iris and Rodney Gullatte Foundation supported the children’s project. Iris Gullatte, the foundation’s vice president, said she was inspired by Bishop-Falu’s determination to aid others. The collected donations were intended to provide relief for local families facing financial difficulties.