By Julie D’Aloiso
Junior Creates “Celiac Support Collective” to Address Food Insecurity for Gluten-Sensitive Individuals
Claire Leland, a junior at Laurel School in Shaker Heights, is transforming her 13-year experience with celiac disease into a mission to help others facing similar challenges. Through her nonprofit organization, Celiac Support Collective, Leland provides nutritious gluten-free foods free of charge to individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity who struggle with food insecurity.
“Throughout the 13 years of having celiac disease, I’ve discovered how costly gluten-free food is,” Leland explained during a recent interview. “Gluten-free food is found in wheat, barley and rye, and it is a main protein used in people’s day to day life.”
As part of her school’s Capstone scholar program, Leland developed a project focused on celiac disease. Her passion for the cause has led her to compete in multiple pitch contests, including being named a finalist in the Teen Accelerate Pitch Contest focused on civic engagement in Northeast Ohio.
“I’ve competed in multiple pitch contests and used my earnings to donate to the Emergency Assistance Center,” Leland stated. She specifically focused on purchasing pasta and shelf-stable products that would benefit those in need while accommodating dietary restrictions.
The Emergency Assistance Center (TEAC), located in Northfield, serves northern Summit County including Twinsburg, providing a monthly seven-day supply of food to individuals and families in need. According to their statistics, they served 609 people in 215 households in March 2025 alone.
Leland’s firsthand experience with celiac disease has given her unique insight into the challenges faced by those with this condition. Both Claire and her younger brother live with celiac disease, making their family particularly aware of the daily obstacles it presents.
“It’s still really difficult when school lunch or school activities go on. I just had a recent college trip, and I had to communicate with all the teachers and my parents were involved. So it can get very, very complicated,” Leland shared.
She has future plans to create a blog specifically addressing how children can cope with celiac disease. “I know my brother, he’s 12. He’s at a rough age right now where sleepovers, hanging out with friends’ houses. He has to always bring something, and then there’s an aspect of feeling left out, you know, feeling excluded,” she explained.
Family support has been crucial in managing their dietary needs. Claire shared that her grandmother has gone above and beyond to accommodate her and her brother’s condition. “There’s a special shelf that we have at her house,” Leland noted. Her grandmother maintains dedicated cookware, silverware, and even a separate cabinet stocked exclusively with gluten-free items to prevent cross-contamination.
“To be extra safe and to also make us feel special, she has her own silverware and everything, and we also have our own cabinet in her pantry that she stocks up for us,” Leland added, highlighting the importance of such thoughtful accommodations.
Leland’s mission with Celiac Support Collective encompasses multiple dimensions, focusing on providing food while also raising awareness about the condition. Her initiative recognizes that celiac disease requires strict adherence to dietary restrictions with no cross-contamination, making it particularly challenging for those facing economic hardships.
The young entrepreneur has emphasized the difference between being gluten-free by choice and having celiac disease: “Celiac is you have to be very, very conservative, no cross contamination, nothing.”
Leland joins other Laurel School students who have been recognized for their community engagement and achievements. Her work addresses a critical need in the community while demonstrating how personal challenges can become a platform for helping others.
For those interested in learning more about celiac disease resources or supporting the Celiac Support Collective, Leland is developing a website that will include educational resources as well as ways to contribute to her nonprofit organization.
