Connected Community Schools’ Melissa Roys Recognized as 2025 Hunger Hero
Rome, NY – September 15, 2025 — When disaster strikes, true leaders rise to meet the moment. For her unwavering dedication to food security and extraordinary service to the community, Melissa Roys, Co-Leader of Connected Community Schools, has been named a 2025 Hunger Hero.
This recognition reflects not only Melissa’s personal leadership but also the remarkable teamwork she shared with fellow Co-Leader Danielle Martin as they guided The Connected Initiative through back-to-back natural disasters in Central New York.
On July 16, 2024, an EF-2 tornado struck the City of Rome with winds of up to 135 mph, leaving behind widespread destruction. Families suddenly found themselves without food, power, or shelter. Within hours, Melissa and Danielle mobilized their team at the North James Street Connected Impact Center, transforming it into a HUB of emergency relief. Over the following days, the Connected Impact Center provided more than 46,000 hot meals to residents who had no way to cook or store food. Under their joint leadership, volunteers and community partners came together, donations poured in, and the city found strength in the midst of crisis.
In June 2025, when another series of violent storms devastated Rome and Clinton, the duo once again led a rapid and compassionate response. The Connected Impact Center was converted into a Cooling and Storm Relief Station, offering food, water, charging stations, and a safe place for families displaced by the storms and extreme summer heat.
While Melissa is being honored with the Hunger Hero award, she has consistently emphasized that this work is never done alone. Together with Danielle, she has expanded Connected Community Schools’ reach to 52 schools across 13 districts, where year-round HUBs provide children and families with food, supplies, and access to essential services. This model ensures that in both everyday challenges and moments of crisis, students and families know they are not alone.
The Connected Initiative is honored to celebrate Melissa Roys, 2025 Hunger Hero, while also recognizing the steadfast leadership of Danielle Martin and the entire Connected Team for their tireless commitment to fighting hunger, strengthening families, and building resilient communities.
About Connected Community Schools
Connected Community Schools partners with school districts and communities to remove barriers, meet essential needs, and provide year-round support to students and families. With programs in 52 schools across 13 districts, the organization ensures that children and their families have access to food, supplies, and services needed to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
