What we do
Nourish America was founded upon the simple intention to nourish, not simply feed, every child with an abundance of healthy, nutritious food tailored to their unique needs. Our approach to combating food insecurity has been informed by our founder's personal experiences with food insecurity, as well as the challenges that our food bank partners face in bridging the income gap in access to nutritious, allergy-safe foods.
The Covid-19 pandemic plunged many families into food insecurity, and recently, the steep rise in inflation has led parents to wonder whether they can put food on the table. It is vital that we prioritize giving organic & nutritious food to allow these families to thrive. We focus on cultivating a strong nationwide network of partner organizations and maximizing the positive sustained impact on the families that we serve:
The Covid-19 pandemic plunged many families into food insecurity, and recently, the steep rise in inflation has led parents to wonder whether they can put food on the table. It is vital that we prioritize giving organic & nutritious food to allow these families to thrive. We focus on cultivating a strong nationwide network of partner organizations and maximizing the positive sustained impact on the families that we serve:
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Since our founding in 2018, Nourish America has expanded its chapters to New York, New Jersey, and Michigan. Recognizing that communities of color in urban areas often feel the disproportionate impact of hunger, We have launched initiatives to support food banks in New York City and will soon begin operations in Atlanta, Georgia. We will continue our initiatives to reduce food insecurity in urban areas that are experiencing a steep rise in food prices. We will build upon our work with food pantries at Columbia University and the University of Michigan to provide healthy meals for college students.
Increasing youth engagement in the anti-hunger movement is at the forefront of Nourish America’s mission. We utilize social media platforms such as Instagram (@nourishamerica) and YouTube to spread awareness of food insecurity and how people can take action. Our campaigns intend to educate young people on ways to contribute to the fight against hunger whether through fundraising, volunteering, or advocacy.
Increasing youth engagement in the anti-hunger movement is at the forefront of Nourish America’s mission. We utilize social media platforms such as Instagram (@nourishamerica) and YouTube to spread awareness of food insecurity and how people can take action. Our campaigns intend to educate young people on ways to contribute to the fight against hunger whether through fundraising, volunteering, or advocacy.
Meet The team
Shreya Shivakumar / Founder and President
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Shreya Shivakumar is a student at Barnard College of Columbia University, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Science & Public Policy. She is an Executive Editor at the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review and a Curriculum Director at Athena Mock Trial. Shreya has been recognized as a Sodexo Stop Hunger Scholar, Invisalign ChangeMaker, Gold Award Girl Scout, and was named one of PEOPLE Magazine's Girls Changing the World for her contributions to the national fight against food insecurity. Shreya's experience as a social entrepreneur, along with her internships in public interest law and government, have inspired her dedication to public service. Shreya plans to attend law school after graduation and pursue a career as an attorney.
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Sarina Thapar / Vice President
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Sarina Thapar is a junior at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology and minoring in Ethics. She is currently Vice President for Nishana, Emory’s Bollywood fusion dance team, an analyst for Everview Consulting, and just completed an internship at NYU Langone Health. She is passionate about bridging the gap between health outcomes in wealthy and underprivileged populations and hopes to achieve this goal through her commitment to community service and furthering scientific knowledge through research. In her free time, she volunteers as a crisis counselor to help individuals going through mental health emergencies and enjoys going on hikes and traveling. Sarina plans to attend medical school after graduation and will eventually pursue a career as a physician.
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Vasundhara Kulkarni is a junior at University of Michigan majoring in Computer Science, with a specialized interest in Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence. She is involved in various clubs on campus including Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and MHackers. Vasundhara practices using computing for social good by building websites for local organizations, and she is a Gold Award Girl Scout. Her passion for alleviating food insecurity and providing access to nutritious foods began from growing and donating produce from a hydroponics system at her highschool. In her free time, Vasundhara loves reading, working out, and playing the violin. After graduation, Vasundhara plans to pursue a career in the tech sphere and conduct research in computational sustainability.
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Nami Jain is a junior at Rutgers University majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Business Administration. She is exploring different careers by getting involved on campus through various organizations, including the Rutgers Consulting Group, Blueprint Product Management Fellowship, and the Aresty Research Center for Undergraduates. In her free time, Nami loves working out, painting, traveling, meeting new people, and spending time with friends and family. She is passionate about giving back to her community through service and education and is excited to work with the rest of the Nourish team to continue to spread and strengthen Nourish America's impact.
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Shravya Harish / Treasurer
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Shravya is a student at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. She is currently completing a major in Biology and a minor in Theater. Her passions include forensics and environmental sciences. In her free time, Shravya likes to practice yoga and tai chi. She is also an avid potter and reader. She likes to participate in fencing matches as well. Some fun facts about Shravya include that she knows eight languages and has won three food eating competitions. Her dream is to travel to at least fifteen countries. In the future, Shravya would like to work with either the United Nations or a Non-governmental Organization (NGO).
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Fundraising committee
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Shruti Shivakumar / President of Fundraising,
New Jersey Chapter 
Amishi Sharma / President of Fundraising,
New York Chapter 
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Shruti Shivakumar is a freshman at J.P Stevens High School in Edison, New Jersey. She has been an active volunteer with Nourish America since 2021, where she has helped fundraise and deliver food donations to food banks in New York and New Jersey. She also helps prepare and deliver meals to shelters for unhoused individuals in New Jersey on a monthly basis. Shruti participates in her school's Model United Nations club and her school's orchestra. She is a Senior Girl Scout working towards earning her Gold Award. This past summer, Shruti received a scholarship from Kode With Klossy to participate in their Web Development Camp in New York City where she coded a website using HTML/CSS and Java. Shruti aims to obtain a business education and pursue a career in financial technology. In her free time, she likes to read fantasy novels, crochet a sweater, or practice her coding skills.
Amishi Sharma is a sophomore at Garden City High School, participating in a range of extracurricular activities. She serves as the team captain of the Garden City High School Robotics Team and showcases her strong passion for athletics as a member of both the JV Bowling and Varsity Badminton teams. Actively engaged in community service, Amishi has dedicated three years to the events of “Making Strides of Long Island” and is a proud member of Children's Hope India, an organization committed to assisting those in need. In her free time, Amishi enjoys dancing, trying new foods, and spending time with friends and family. Following high school, she hopes to stay engaged in public service and aspires to pursue a career in law.
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Features
"Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Announces Its 2022 Award Recipients" - Yahoo News
"Donating Healthy, High-Quality Food" - Sodexo Blog
"High school juniors start nonprofit, donate allergen-free foods to those in need" - NJ.com
"Nourish America Donates Food To Refugees Affected By Covid-19" - TapInto
Points of Light Foundation
Jersey's Best - June 2022
"Donating Healthy, High-Quality Food" - Sodexo Blog
"High school juniors start nonprofit, donate allergen-free foods to those in need" - NJ.com
"Nourish America Donates Food To Refugees Affected By Covid-19" - TapInto
Points of Light Foundation
Jersey's Best - June 2022