Facebook Pixel - PageView Event

Young Business Owner Supports Food Security

Young Business Owner Supports Food Security

Quinn Calvert Uses His Creativity and Entrepreneurial Spirit to Provide Meals to Families in Need

At eight years old, Quinn Calvert has donated proceeds from his hand tie-dye t-shirt business “VIBES by Q” to the LA Regional Food Bank to help provide 3,660 meals for families in need. He committed to donating a portion of his sales to the Food Bank from his very first sale. After the first month or so of sales, Quinn donated the equivalent of 636 meals, then set his goal to donate 1,000 meals. He has surpassed that goal and is now working toward contributing 10,000 meals.

Last holiday season, he received a tie-dye kit for Christmas and realized that he really enjoyed creating tie-dye shirts and sweatshirts. Quinn’s older sisters had businesses when they were also around his age, and the only requirement that their parents had was that they have to donate a portion of their proceeds to charity. Quinn is following in his older sisters’ footsteps. Their parents hope that this teaches them that hard work goes behind any business and money is earned, and it’s a lot of work to earn money, but it is also essential to share it with others.

Quinn was reading online and saw food banks across America. He saw the LA Regional Food Bank was the closest to his family, and he knew he could donate. 

Sierra Canyon raffles autographed shirt for the LA Regional Food Bank.

Last winter, Quinn partnered up with Andre Chevalier, Head Coach of Sierra Canyon School Boys’ Basketball Team. Coach Andre enthusiastically supported Quinn’s initiative. The 2021 boys’ basketball team signed an “SC VIBES” shirt, raffled off a

t the first home game this past spring. The “raffle supporting the LA Regional Food Bank” was announced 8-10 times during time outs providing great support during the game. 

“When Quinn first started this project, he set a goal of donating 1,000 meals, and it seemed like such a lofty goal at the time,” shares his mother. “He just started his business but with the help of Sierra Canyon School Boys’ Basketball team and raffling one of the autographed Sierra Canyon vibes t-shirts, he was not only able to meet his goal of donating 1,000 meals, but he surpassed it.”

Quinn at a basketball game raffling an autographed shirt benefiting the LA Regional Food Bank.

Quinn, Coach Andre and the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers raised enough for over 2,000 meals. All of the raffle proceeds went to the Food Bank. 

The raffle’s success gave Quinn incentive and motivation to set a new goal of donating 10,000 meals. He has been working hard and continues to sell his Sierra Canyon vibes t-shirts and other VIBES by Q t-shirts, where proceeds for every sale go to the Food Bank. 

His mother continues, “We’re very excited about the continuation of his business and partnering up with the LA Regional Food Bank to help even more people, and we know how important it is, especially with the virus and people in need of food security.”

“It feels really good to have a nice meal,” said Quinn. The LA Regional #FoodBank is proud of your initiative and continued commitment to helping the Food Bank and our partner agencies provide meals for food-insecure families in our community. Together, #WeFeedLA.


Related Story: Two 12-Year-Old Best Friends Make a Splash in the Fight Against Hunger

Related Story: 9-Year-Old Takao Donates to the LA Regional Food Bank


Together, #WeFeedLA

It doesn’t take a lot of time or effort but it takes the initiative to take the first step. Quinn is an excellent example of a young individual who’s taken that first step and impacted many lives. We’re hopeful that his story can inspire others to help and also fundraise for our community members in great need. “Once you take the first step, it feels good to help our community and we’re hopeful that others will join us,” Quinn’s mother said.

More Stories from the LA Regional Food Bank

Food Waste and Sustainability at the LA Regional Food Bank

As we celebrate Earth Day, find out the different ways the Food Bank is helping save our planet.

Volunteers Transforming Lives Through Kindness at this Food Bank Partner Agency

Vivian has been volunteering for years at the Food Bank’s partner agency, the First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena. Learn more here.

The Health Benefits of Volunteering at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

By volunteering at the Food Bank, you’re not just helping hundreds of thousands of individuals but also helping your body. Learn more.

SoCalGas Partners with LA Regional Food Bank to Fight Hunger in LA County

SoCalGas again partnered with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank this year to combat hunger in Los Angeles County. Learn more here.

Stay Connected

Sign up for the latest in our fight against hunger.