HungerMitao Helps Indian Americans Give Back In Tangible Ways

India-West Staff Reporter

DALLAS, TX – In a suburban Texas food bank, volunteers of all ages move quickly along long tables, packing boxes of rice, beans, and fresh produce. Among them are members of the Indian American community, united under the banner of HungerMitao—“wipe out hunger.”

What started as a local effort in 2017 has grown into a nationwide movement, providing over 80 million meals across the United States. Its founders, Raj and Aradhana (Anna) Asava, recognized among the Top 100 Indian American Philanthropists, have built a volunteer-driven grassroots initiative that channels the generosity of the Indian diaspora into direct action for families in need.

“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,” Aradhana has said in the past, underscoring the movement’s dual mission of service and community-building.

The initiative operates without a formal organizational structure or overhead. Every donation goes directly to local food banks, transforming compassion into measurable impact.

HungerMitao has grown to collaborate with eight Feeding America food banks—including those in North Texas, Austin, Houston, New York City, Atlanta, Seattle, and Southeast Michigan—activating volunteers, raising awareness, and amplifying resources to reach families struggling with food insecurity.

For Raj and Aradhana, the work is deeply personal. As immigrants, they see their contributions as a way of giving back to the country that has provided them opportunity and stability. “What began as an effort to raise awareness within our community has evolved into a movement of gratitude and giving back to America,” Raj said.

The  philosophy is simple: “Give where you live.” Beyond funding, volunteers contribute time, skills, and energy—demonstrating that even small acts, multiplied across a community, can change lives. HungerMitao has inspired other groups to adopt similar models, proving that community-driven action can move mountains.

Amid record levels of hunger in the U.S., the Indian American diaspora, through HungerMitao, sends a clear message: when a community unites, hope multiplies, and no one has to go hungry.