Photo: From left, Anna Asava, Raj Asava and Payal Sharma
The newly-formed Indian American Council (IAC) and the Food Bank of New York City have come together to tackle the problem of hunger in the Big Apple.
At its launch event at the Bar Bar restaurant in NY, donations for over 600,000 meals were raised in just 10 minutes, the organizers said in a Facebook post.
The IAC has launched an ambitious Million Meal March campaign to help the Food Bank of New York City provide more meals to neighbors in need.
“Hunger Mitao” or “Wipe Out Hunger” has become the IAC’s rally cry as it works to mobilize the Indian American community to contribute in meaningful ways.
The IAC’s co-chair is Payal Sharma, the Managing Partner of Baar Baar restaurant, and its Founders and Advisors are Raj Asava and Aradhana “Anna” Asava.
“In the spirit of ‘give where you live,’ the Indian American community – through IAC – has enabled close to five million meals in Texas in just over a year,” said Raj Asava.
“We are excited to bring this model to New York City and are confident that the Indian community here will galvanize around Food Bank and provide millions of meals for NYC’s food insecure children, seniors, veterans and vulnerable families,” added Anna Asava.
“In order to be Food Bank for New York City, it’s imperative that New Yorkers from every community see a place for leadership within our mission,” said Margarette Purvis, president and CEO of Food Bank For New York City. “We are grateful to be selected as the recipients of the great passion, commitment and focus of the Indian American Council. Their important work punctuates how every New Yorker has a role to play in the fight against hunger.”
For 35 years, Food Bank For New York City has been the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end hunger throughout the five boroughs.
Nearly one in five New Yorkers relies on Food Bank for food and other resources. Through its network of more than 1,000 charities and schools citywide, Food Bank provides food for more than 61 million free meals per year for New Yorkers in need.