Pella native Maria Rose Belding was honored as one of CNN’s heroes of 2018.

In 2015 she and co-founder, Grant Nelson–also an Iowa native, created a database system called MEANS, or Matching Excess And Need for Stability. It provides a way for potential food donors to connect with non profits such as food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and houses of worship. MEANS has been used in 49 states and the District of Columbia, working with over 3000 partners in the United States to eliminate food waste. Belding first got the idea of creating such a program when her 8th grade Sunday School Class was sorting food for the Pella Community Food Shelf in her home church, Peace Lutheran.

Belding, who is now a student in Washington, D.C., is the Executive Director of MEANS. Maria and the other nine recipients each received $10,000 for the various ways in which they are helping others.