WRITTEN BY: PARINITA GUPTA
(April 26, 2023) In the autumn of 2017, Raj Asava and his wife, Aradhana (Anna) Asava, decided to quit their corporate jobs after four decades, to start HungerMitao. Determined to do what they could to ensure that nobody went hungry, the founders pledged $1 million to their organization. Five years later, they have delivered over 50 million meals and run seven food banks across the USA. A small, volunteer-led initiative had grown to a movement, spread out across America.
“It’s a movement, not an organization. We are asking other communities to step up and raise awareness about rampant hunger across America, improving community engagement, as well as channeling resources and contributions of the Indian American community towards fighting hunger through the Feeding America network of food banks, in North Texas, Tarrant Area, Houston, New York City, Atlanta, Seattle, and SE Michigan,” said Raj, in an interview.
Raj & Anna Asava
The Global Indian believes that raising awareness leads to greater involvement. The Indian diaspora in the United States has played a crucial role in providing 50 million nutritious meals to Feeding America and its affiliated food banks over the last five years. This community-driven movement, which began on September 29, 2017, has become a model for creating a positive impact in our local communities.
“Feeding America is grateful to Raj and Anna Asava and HungerMitao for stepping up when food banks need it most. We are grateful for their leadership, generosity, and commitment to help ensure that more communities across the country have access to food,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America.
Raj & Anna Asava for The HungerMitao Movement
HungerMitao motivates and mobilizes the resources of the Indian diaspora by raising awareness about hunger, coordinating volunteers, organizing food drives, and collecting essential funds. “HungerMitao is as much about eradicating hunger as it is about unifying the fragmented efforts of our community and focusing it on the humanitarian cause of hunger,” said Anna Asava.
“I am so proud of Indiaspora members Aradhana and Raj Asava and inspired by how much their HungerMitao movement has accomplished for communities across the country. When we come together with passion, we can accomplish anything,” said MR Rangaswami, founder, Indiaspora, and a donor to Feeding America.