8-Year-Old Collects 300 Cereal Boxes to Feed Local Kids

Xander O'Brien's cereal drive benefits a local nonprofit called The Bag Brigade

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Xander O'Brien, an 8-year-old from Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, is on a mission to collect 300 boxes of cereal to help feed kids in need. Powered by his love of Lucky Charms and a big heart, Xander is working with a local nonprofit called The Bag Brigade to collect the cereal boxes, which will be used to host an annual cereal box domino drop at local schools.

Why it matters

The Bag Brigade supports food-insecure students in the Belle Vernon Area School District by providing them with shelf-stable meals to eat on weekends and over the summer. Xander's cereal drive helps the organization expand its reach and provide more nutritious food options for local children in need.

The details

Xander started volunteering with The Bag Brigade a few years ago, packing food bags with his family. He was inspired to start his own cereal drive after seeing the impact the organization has on the community. Last year, he collected 125 boxes, and this year he's aiming for 300. The cereal boxes are used in an annual cereal box domino drop at local schools, which Xander got to kick off last year at Rostraver Elementary.

  • Xander is collecting cereal boxes through March 15, 2026.
  • The annual cereal box domino drop takes place at local schools.

The players

Xander O'Brien

An 8-year-old boy from Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, who is on a mission to collect 300 boxes of cereal to help feed local kids in need.

Sarah O'Brien

Xander's mom, who first discovered The Bag Brigade and started volunteering with the organization, eventually bringing Xander and his younger brother along.

The Bag Brigade

A volunteer-run nonprofit that supports food-insecure students in the Belle Vernon Area School District by providing them with shelf-stable meals to eat on weekends and over the summer.

Kathy Kelly

The co-founder of The Bag Brigade, which started small 10 years ago and has grown dramatically, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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What they’re saying

“We need 300”

— Xander O'Brien (CBS News)

“You want your children to learn when they're younger that not everyone has what they have”

— Sarah O'Brien, Xander's mom (CBS News)

“That first week, we packed 900 bags. We realized we really needed to be doing this year-round.”

— Kathy Kelly, Co-founder of The Bag Brigade (CBS News)

What’s next

Xander is collecting cereal boxes through March 15, 2026, and the annual cereal box domino drop will take place at local schools.

The takeaway

Xander's cereal drive demonstrates the power of a child's compassion and the impact that even small acts of kindness can have on a community. By supporting organizations like The Bag Brigade, local residents can help ensure that all children in the area have access to nutritious food, even when they're not in school.