For Javona Mott, multitasking just comes natural. The LSU junior balances school and work, all while lending a helping hand to her community.  In the fall of her junior year, Mott knew she wanted to do more to make a difference. However, she had no idea what or how.
According to the US Census Bureau data, 20.1 percent of people are facing food insecurity in Louisiana. That’s when Mott knew she wanted to do.
“So I got on my computer and I started searching how would I be able to do community service,” Mott said.           
“What could I do… and I wanted something meaningful.”
That’s when Javona and friends came up with the ‘brown bag’. Each month, the LSU students package some one hundred and fifty bags with sandwiches, cookies and fruit. The effort feed homeless at the Volunteers of America drop-in center, and other public locations around Baton Rouge.
The project is also self-funded.
“Me and Erin sat down and we were like okay we’re going to do sandwiches, we’re going to make the brown bags,” Mott said.
“Then the next thing was like okay, how are we going to do this?
“A college student who is full time in college and part time at work, but it’s just by the grace of god.”
By her senior year, Javona hopes her venture will expand to include more people and more food. Overall, she says she wishes to inspire more people in the LSU community to lend a helping hand.
“Life has dealt a bad hand to some people. We’re not obligated, but I feel like it’s our duties as humans to help other people.”