South Bay nonprofit provides free vegetarian meals to local students ...Middle East

Around 40% of students of experienced food insecurity between 2023 and 2024. A South Bay nonprofit is trying to make sure that number drops to zero.

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Almost 75,000 students were surveyed between 2023 and 2024 by the Hope Center at Temple University which found that over half of those surveyed experienced at least one form of basic needs insecurity related to food or housing, like food insecurity, housing insecurity or homelessness. Sattvic Meals Foundation in Milpitas is a nonprofit organization aiming to address hunger anxiety in community colleges with the bold vision of serving 1 million meals annually by 2030.

Sattvic has provided hot vegetarian meals to students at De Anza College in Cupertino, Foothill College in Los Altos Hills and West Valley College in Saratoga.

“We bring in hot, freshly cooked nutritious meals, vegetarian meals, to the campuses to address that,” said Sattvic Meals Foundation executive director Nagare Khaprodduturi, “so that students need not worry about at least one thing in their life and get that well-balanced nourishment so they can focus on what’s more important, which is learning in the college.”

Khaprodduturi, who prefers to go by Rekha, said “sattvic” is a Sanskrit word meaning wholesome and good consciousness, aiming to nourish to mind, body and soul. The foundation’s meals are vegetarian for ethical and environmental reasons. Their lunches include a main course and dessert, which arrive to the schools already prepared after being cooked in a commissary kitchen that the nonprofit shares with the India Heritage Foundation.

“When we talk about the real nourishment and the overall well-being, it has to come through as less pain to others,” Khaprodduturi said. “And if you think about any of the compassion as an aspect, bringing it to vegetarian will help in reducing the pain to other living beings.”

The nonprofit is associated with the Hare Krishna movement, which as founded in the 1960s by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is also affiliated with the operators of Sri Krishna Balaram Goshala, a cow sanctuary in Milpitas. The Hare Krishna movement spans hundreds of centers and restaurants, thousands of local meeting groups and millions of congregational members worldwide. According to the website for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, practitioners worship the Hindu god Krishna and promote bhakti-yoga through festivals, yoga seminars, public chanting and the performing arts. Members have gone on to promote the path of devotional yoga via free food distribution, among other projects.

To make sure the meals are free, Khaprodduturi said, Sattvic is looking to obtain government and school district grants, corporate sponsorship and individual donations. To provide 50,000 meals in the foundation’s first year cost about $500,000, but Khaprodduturi said she expects the cost to come down as their service scales upward.

The program started as a pilot in De Anza College then expanded to West Valley College and Foothill College.. The partnership was seen as beneficial since there are usually fewer cafeteria options for vegetarians.

Samantha Hernandez, director of student needs at West Valley College, said the nonprofit reached out to her. After a 30-minute conversation with Khaprodduturi, they agreed to conduct a one-day pilot in April.

“What they’re doing is amazing, working directly with community college students who are hungry, which is what we’re doing,” Hernandez said.

According to the college, over 130 students received lunch and dessert that was prepared and delivered directly by the nonprofit and distributed on a Monday afternoon from the Office of Student Needs. The college said they received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students about the pilot program.

“Many expressed deep gratitude for having access to a reliable and healthy meal option during a time of increased financial and academic stress,” West Valley College said in an email to this news organization. “This program demonstrated not only the clear need for accessible food resources during the academic year, but also the positive effect that a consistent meal can have on student wellness, retention and a sense of community.”

Provost Joshua Moon Johnson said that according to Real College California Survey findings from 2023, around 21% of respondents from West Valley College reported experiencing food insecurity in the previous 30 days.

“They’re already here enrolled and stressing out and wanting something better academically,” Hernandez said. “Then how do I ensure as the director of  basic needs that their basic needs are met so they can focus on their academics and be successful?”

Sattvic Meals Foundation will continue to offer weekly free meals for students enrolled in summer classes. Hernandez said she wanted to continue the partnership to eliminate a barrier for students who might be hungry and cannot afford the food trucks on campus while the cafeteria is closed.

Hernandez said there is no official continuation of a partnership with Sattvic Meals Foundation in the fall. West Valley College, along with Mission College, will be launching their universal free meal program in the fall with Thomas Cuisine providing the meals.

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