Sophia Buonavolonta

The past several years have been filled with fear and uncertainty, prompting many young adults to ask the question: what can we do to help? West Morris Mendham High School (WMMHS) senior Emily Borinshteyn may have the answer: The Sharing Project.

Founded by her brother Matthew Borinshteyn, a WMMHS graduate, this 501(c)3 non-profit organization uses sustainable gardening practices to feed families in need. Partnering with local farmers and gardeners, The Sharing Project has donated almost 3,000 pounds of fresh produce to local food pantries since its founding in 2020.

For Emily, The Sharing Project is not only a way to connect to and provide service to her community: it acts as an outlet for her passion for gardening, sustainability, and the environment. As a leader of this organization, Emily has arranged several fundraisers to cover necessary costs, including the implementation of a fence at the garden being constructed in Mendham. Her responsibilities also include recruiting and training new student volunteers. She teaches them to prepare, plant, maintain, and harvest produce at each of The Sharing Project’s local gardens. This year, the volunteer crew—Gairick Bhattacharjee, Nicholas and Gracielynn Leo, Anushka Elavia, Thomas Bulzachelli, and Lexie Pallis—grew to include Aidan and Lexi Farver, Nathan Kvares, Carolina Gavilanes, Raeed Chowdhury, Jess Fromme, Emily Schleifstein, Nathan Shluper, and Francesca, Sofia, and Giovanni Lombardo.

As the current Student President, Emily has added her own touch to the organization. Driven by her passion for the Earth, she has expanded The Sharing Project’s focus on sustainability and environmental enhancement. Under her leadership, the volunteers practice organic gardening—the produce is grown without herbicides or pesticides. The Sharing Project also reuses water bottles as containers to grow seedlings in to find a new purpose for this plastic waste. Now, Emily, along with Gairick Bhattacharjee and James Fourie, a local Eagle Scout, is working on implementing a rainwater collection system at the Mendham Garden. “This system will be used to water the plants at the garden because currently we have to bring gallons from home to water the plants there,” Emily says. “This will be a huge step in conservation for The Sharing Project!”

Beyond her role as Student President of The Sharing Project, Emily teaches the importance of gardening and sustainability to the youths of her community. Along with her friend Anuska Elavia, Emily founded the Young Gardener Club, a non-profit community outreach program designed to captivate elementary and middle school citizens. In the two years that Emily has led this club with Anushka Elavia and Lexie Pallis, she has formulated, developed, and taught an engaging curriculum focused on organic gardening, sustainability, healthy nutrition, and social responsibility to help the

environment. To create a diverse learning experience, Emily has even coordinated with guest speakers—Mrs. Amalia Duarte, Dr. Rekha Mandel, and Sustainability Hero Ms. Julie Crawford—to inspire and educate her young gardeners.

“One of the reasons why I was interested in starting the Young Gardener Club was that I wanted to provide younger students with an opportunity to connect with nature, learn more about the joys of gardening and healthy nutrition, and to understand the importance of our community and the environment,” says Emily. “We would also be able to nourish a love for community involvement in them as well as concern for the Earth.”

Emily’s environmental involvements are more than just extracurricular activities: they are her passions come to fruition. Along with her student volunteers and young gardeners, Emily is changing the world, one seedling at a time.