Junior Yash Shah '24 to Turn Food Donations into Kits for Those in Need

MBS junior Yash Shah ’24 recently launched the Health and Hunger Initiative, a program seeking to distribute nutritionally-balanced food kits to local residents facing food insecurity. He is currently collecting food at the Millburn, Summit, and Springfield Libraries to give to those in need.

"It’s simply the right thing to do,” said Yash. “We can all play a small part in solving this big issue, starting from our own neighborhoods.”

Having witnessed families in New Jersey struggling to put food on their tables during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yash first started running food drives at MBS, collecting and donating more than 3,000 pounds of food. 

This year, he sought to combine his passion for helping the community with his knowledge in nutrition to build his initiative, which aims to address food insecurity with healthy food options in New Jersey.

Yash first sources the food from donations and purchases, then packages them in a nutritionally-balanced way, in accordance with USDA guidelines. Any food that doesn’t make it into a meal kit will be donated to a local food pantry or soup kitchen.

To support the initiative, you may drop off any food donations at the collection boxes located in the Summit, Springfield, or Millburn Free Public Libraries. There will also be a donation box at Morristown Beard School from the last week of February through March 8.

For more information, visit www.healthandhungerinitiative.com.