Indian American community in North Texas celebrates 5-year anniversary of movement raising awareness about hunger in US
Touch-A-Life Foundation has recognized HungerMitao, a volunteer-driven grassroots movement focused on raising awareness about hunger in the USA and improving community engagement, as TALHero 2022, for its outstanding services and impact.
Founded by Raj Asava and Anna (Aradhana) Asava, HungerMitao “has been enormously successful, resulting in the delivery of over 50 million meals,” TAL said recognizing Hunger Mitao in the category of nonprofits.
Read: HungerMitao enables over 50 million meals across US (September 1, 2022)
“Oh Wow! This is definitely the most beautiful honor coming at the heels of “World Kindness Day” on Nov 13,” said Raj Asava in a post on Linkedin. Anna and he were “humbled by this recognition, and accept this award on behalf of the 4 million strong Indian diaspora in the US,” added Asava. “Thank you Touch-A-Life Foundation for recognizing HungerMitao as TALHero 2022 for the nonprofit category!”
Meanwhile, members of HungerMitao Steering Council of North Texas packed the trunksof their cars and headed out to the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) to set-up for the 5-year anniversary celebration of the movement on a bitterly cold Nov 12 morning.
As the wind howled these volunteers hummed away while setting up snacks, raffle, and informational tables about the ways in which community can continue its support to NTFB, according to a press release.
The Indian American community started pouring in at 11 am starting with the SewaDiwali team which had rallied many of US-based Dharmic, linguistic and compassionate organizations and individuals to conduct food drives across the Dallas Fort Worth region.
Over just an hour and a half, a steady flow of cars pulled up to the food bank to drop off several tons of nonperishable food. Children from Konkani Samaj (families culturally from the West Coast of India) raised $1,250 for the food bank through their own initiative.
Read: HungerMitao enables 500,000 meals in 2022 Spring Food Drive (April 29, 2022)
This heartwarming achievement was matched by community leader Mukesh Parna, resulting in a donation of $2,500 to the North Texas Food Bank.
Youngsters were doubly energized and cheered when they learned that due to a Holiday match program at NTFB, their efforts resulted in enabling 15,000 nutritious meals for the food challenged children, seniors, veterans, and families in need across North Texas.
Members of Chinmaya Mission DFW also joined in by not only bringing in food collected from food drives, but also volunteering for the afternoon shift at the North Texas Food Bank.
The Indian American community, in the spirit of ‘give where you live’ came out in large number to donate food, funds and celebrate the impact they had collectively made – 15 million nutritious meals enabled for the North Texas Food Bank in the last 5 years!
Since its launch on September 29, 2017, the movement has enabled 50 million meals through Feeding America and Food Banks in North Texas, Tarrant Area, Houston, New York City, Atlanta, Seattle, and Detroit.
Read: HungerMitao launches 7th chapter in Michigan (October 25, 2021)
Read: HungerMitao movement serves 10 million meals in North Texas (March 13, 2021)
READ: HungerMitao provides four million meals to poor New Yorkers (January 26, 2021)