REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (Diya TV) — The Patel family in Redwood City, California has reached a milestone in their effort to combat global hunger through Rise Against Hunger — they packaged 1 million meals.
Jay and Nimisha Patel with their children Rohan and Shivani set the ambitious target of packing 1 million meals by 2030 after Rohan’s Eagle Scout Service Project inspired them to take action against food insecurity. Throughout the years, the family has held 55 community events that have mobilized more than 3,000 volunteers to help the family achieve its goal five years ahead of schedule.
Bringing our community together to make a tangible difference has been a privilege,” said Jay Patel. “This achievement demonstrates the power of collective action in creating hope and addressing critical global challenges.”
The meals packaged by the Patels and their volunteers consist of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and essential vitamins. Rise Against Hunger distributes these meals to schools, clinics, and communities in need around the world. Contributions by the Patels have helped feed over 4,600 people in places like the Philippines, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Somalia.
A December event marked the final step in the campaign named “Unite Our Community” by the family. It was attended by 70 volunteers, consisting of members of local organizations, Scouts, and civic groups, reflecting the broad community support the initiative has garnered.
According to the United Nations, over 733 million people globally suffer from hunger. Such efforts as those of the Patel family show that grassroots movements and community engagement play a very important role in dealing with food insecurity on a large scale.
“We’re grateful to have been able to reach this goal and give back to communities around the world,” said Nimisha Patel. “But the work doesn’t stop here. Hunger is still a global crisis, and we hope this inspires others to join the fight.”
From an initial service project to fulfill Eagle Scout requirements, the Patel family now considers it a mission of a lifetime. For two years, Rohan and his family have helped to mobilize volunteers to help coordinate meal-packaging events in Redwood City that provide much-needed nutrition for those suffering from hunger in some of the most impoverished regions of the world.
Rise Against Hunger, the nonprofit partner to the Patels’ cause, has been working since years to end hunger, through meal distributions and other sustainable community development projects that nourish lives and empower communities to break the poverty cycle.
Although the family has successfully met their objective of packaging 1 million meals, they still look forward to continuing their activities with Rise Against Hunger to combat food insecurity.
