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Two Norfolk Academy seniors, Joe Bakkar and Sophie Pollio, recently received an Angel Award, the highest honor offered by the Dos Santos Food Pantry on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Joe and Sophie serve on the organization's Board of Directors, and have donated considerable hours throughout their senior year helping Dos Santos and the migrant working community on the Eastern Shore. Dos Santos is a non-profit organization that provides food to the immigrant and agricultural worker communities in Accomack and Northampton counties. It serves about 800 families per month. It also has a wing, The Agricultural Workers Advocacy Coalition, which serves as a legal aid.

Both Joe and Sophie are Global Health Fellows in the Batten Leadership Program, which encourages students to find solutions to real-world problems and make a difference in the world. They consistently spend time on weekends organizing a student group of volunteers, distributing food and emergency supplies, and attending community organizing meetings.

Antonia Baudoin '23 was actively involved in Dos Santos during her time at Norfolk Academy, and served on the board. Joe learned about the organization from her and started volunteering in his junior year. Volunteer service amounts to almost a full day each Sunday, as students drive to the Eastern Shore and serve food and other necessities. 

Joe enjoyed connecting with migrant workers, speaking Spanish he learned in school. He quickly found the experience to be rewarding because of that connection, which was more direct that other volunteer opportunities.

“Very rarely do you see the people you're actually helping," he said.   

Sophie was struck by how dedicated migrant workers are despite living in difficult conditions. She jumped at the chance to both help that community and pass on the experience and encourage younger NA students. 

“It's a privilege to be a part of this," Sophie said.