Missouri teen turns his own hunger into a mission to erase school lunch debt

ST. LOUIS — DeJuan Strickland was in fourth grade when his school lunch balance hit zero. He remembers sitting at a table, watching other children eat while he went hungry. The moment stayed with him. Years later, at 14, he turned that memory into a comic book hero named Tech Boy, a character built to solve problems with science, creativity and grit. Strickland hoped the hero might inspire other kids — especially those who rarely saw themselves reflected in comic books.

But Tech Boy soon became more than a character. He became the face of a real‑world mission.

DeJuan Strickland’s Campaign Gains Momentum

Strickland launched Team Tech Boy Lunch Heroes, a fundraising initiative designed to pay off school lunch debt for students in his community. He began with a modest goal: $200. He raised twice that. Then the donations kept coming. His GoFundMe eventually climbed to nearly $10,000, and his efforts expanded across the Hazelwood School District, helping students at more than two dozen schools.

The teen said the work was personal. He wanted to make sure no child had to sit hungry the way he once did.

“I don’t want other kids to experience that,” he told ESSENCE.

Tech Boy: A Comic Book Universe With a Purpose

Strickland’s comic series now includes Tech Boy and Science Girl, two STEM‑driven Black superheroes he created to increase representation in pop culture. He said the idea took shape after he saw Black Panther for the first time and realized how rarely Black characters led stories centered on science and innovation. His mother helped him self‑publish the books during the pandemic, using stimulus funds to cover illustration and production costs.

The comics became both a creative outlet and a fundraising engine. Proceeds helped fuel the Lunch Heroes initiative, blending fiction and activism in a way that felt natural to him.

DeJuan Strickland Recieves National Recognition

Strickland’s work drew national attention. In December, he appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show, where Hudson surprised him with a year’s supply of PLEZi Nutrition drinks and a $5,000 donation to expand his lunch‑debt campaign. The moment left him stunned — and energized.

He spoke openly on the show about living with autism and ADHD, and about being bullied. He said he wanted other kids to see that a label does not define their limits.

“Follow your dreams so you can overcome any challenge,” he told Hudson.

A Mission That Keeps Growing

Strickland’s fundraising has now surpassed $30,000 and he continues to expand his efforts. He has hosted STEM camps, spoken publicly about food insecurity and encouraged other young people to build solutions rooted in their own experiences.

In St. Louis, his work has made him something of a hometown hero — not because he created a comic book, but because he turned a painful childhood moment into a mission that feeds others.

Strickland’s GoFundMe campaign is still accepting donations.