In a cramped gym in Connecticut, two 14‑year‑olds turned a pile of dusty pencils into a worldwide movement.
The Spark
In 2023, Jordan Chen and Grace Millard, now juniors at Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge, Connecticut, discovered they shared more than just class schedules. “As we talked more and more, we kind of realized a problem within our community,” Chen says, “and that was our school wasn’t sustainable.” The pair bonded over art and activism while surrounded by sweaty teens in a “sticky gym‑class,” as they describe it.
Building a Movement
They noticed pencils and erasers being discarded because they were dusty or unsharpened, creating unnecessary waste. At the same time, students a few towns over lacked basic educational materials. “Why don’t we just redistribute the school supplies where there’s an excess and put them to where they’re actually needed?” says Chen, recalling their conversation. The idea became the foundation of Restoring Rainbows, a nonprofit dedicated to making art accessible while reducing waste and protecting the planet.
Global Reach
What began as a local project has expanded far beyond Connecticut. Now entering its third year, Restoring Rainbows has grown into a global organization with over 200 branches across 50 countries, supported by over 1,000 volunteers and still growing. Together, they have collected, sanitized, refurbished and redistributed more than 40,000 school supplies, including pens, pencils, books and even revived markers.
The Work Behind the Supplies
Millard says they find ways to repair and elevate the supplies for a second life. Books are disinfected and flipped through to remove any scribbles or names. Markers are taken apart, soaked in fresh dye, and reassembled. Colored pencils and crayons are sharpened. “We were really a ragtag group of teenagers who congregated through social media,” says Chen. “If we can get this far, I can only imagine what can happen with larger organizations and government officials involved.”
Social Media Power
Their online community and social media are big contributors to the growth. “We’ve found not only motivated individuals for our organization but other organizations organized by teenagers,” says Millard, allowing them to learn from other groups and communities on social media. Chen adds, “A young person can go on Instagram or TikTok and make content that reaches millions of people.”
Mission and Message
Restoring Rainbows now has branches around the world run by locals in that community, allowing them to focus on their individual needs. “If a community needs more books or needs more school supplies, they can focus on what their community needs,” says Millard. For the co‑founders, their mission is about more than refurbishing art supplies. “It’s all about restoring hope,” says Millard. “A rainbow is a symbol of hope and a new beginning for so many people.”
How to Get Involved
In the midst of high school drama, physics tests, and school dances, these two students did what so many only imagine. Their advice: “You really just have to go for it,” Millard says. “Never wait until you feel qualified enough because at the end of the day it’s not about what you can do versus what someone else can do, it’s about what you want to do and what you will go out and actually do.” “There are so many incredible people around the world who could do what we are doing,” she said. “It’s really that step that we both took, and we pushed each other to take to pursue this mission.”
Check out where your local Restoring Rainbows branch is and how you can help. Or, if there isn’t one near you, you can apply to start your own.
Key Takeaways
- Restoring Rainbows started in 2023 by 14‑year‑olds Jordan Chen and Grace Millard.
- The nonprofit now operates over 200 branches in 50 countries, with more than 1,000 volunteers.
- More than 40,000 school supplies have been refurbished and redistributed worldwide.
The movement shows how a simple conversation in a gym can spark a global initiative that turns waste into hope.
