Sattvic Meals Foundation dedicated to food insecurity among college students in Bay Area

Sattvic Meals Foundation, a pioneering nonprofit dedicated to eradicating food insecurity among college students, has successfully launched in the Bay Area with an ambitious goal—serving 1 million nutritious meals annually across U.S. college campuses by 2030.

Founded by the visionaries behind Akshaya Patra, the world’s largest school meal program, Sattvic Meals Foundation is on a mission to ensure that no college student in the U.S. goes hungry. Akshaya Patra, which serves 2.25 million meals daily and has provided over 4 billion meals to schoolchildren in India, was recognized by the United Nations in April 2024 for its incredible impact. Building on this success, Sattvic Meals Foundation is expanding this mission to underserved college students across the U.S.

A Growing Need: Addressing Hunger in Higher Education

Hunger among college students is a rising crisis, with studies showing that nearly half of community college students struggle with food insecurity. Many students are forced to choose between essential expenses like tuition, rent, and meals. Sattvic Meals Foundation seeks to address this urgent issue by providing free, high-quality vegetarian meals to students in need.

“Our vision is simple—no student goes hungry on campuses,” said Siva Sivaraman, National Board of Directors at Sattvic Meals Foundation. “A hot, nutritious meal can make a world of difference in a student’s ability to focus and succeed.”

Successful Pilots at De Anza and West Valley Colleges and Expansion Plans

Sattvic Meals Foundation recently launched a successful pilot meal program at De Anza and West Valley Community College, serving over 540 meals to more than 300 students in just the first few weeks. The response from students and administrators has been overwhelmingly positive.

Building on this success, the foundation has expanded to West Valley College, where it recently conducted a soft pilot, serving 140 hot meals in a single day. The program is also set to launch at other community colleges in the near future.

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