Esha Gadi may be just 17, but that didn’t stop her from founding a nonprofit to help feed the homeless.
“I’ve always been passionate about cooking and baking,” said the soon-to-be senior at Central Bucks West High School in Doylestown Borough.
So, she explained, it wasn’t much of a leap to create Hands that Feed to provide fresh, nutritious and homemade meals to area homeless shelters.
After working with a National Honor Society program serving somewhat less-fresh meals to those in need, Gadi said, she was “inspired” to do “something different.”
When Gadi presented her plan to Grace Piro, also 17 and heading into her senior year at CB South, Piro became inspired, too.
“I was very much into the mission,” she said, and quickly joined the Hands that Feed. Today, there are about 30 active members, the teens said.
The youth-led organization prepares its handmade meals in Gadi’s family kitchen and, when available, in the shelters that have kitchen facilities. Recently, Gadi and fellow HTF members made chicken tikka mac and cheese.
“It was a huge hit,” she added.
Part of the goal, Gadi noted, is making ethnic dishes that “bridge our communities and cultures.”
And, not only does the nonprofit want to provide healthy food for the hungry, it also wants to “foster long-term well-being and dignity for all,” the group said.
“It’s extremely important to give back to our communities,” said Piro. “It’s a new lens to see your community through and make an impact.”
Today, Hands that Feed is providing weekly dishes to A Woman’s Place, a Bucks County domestic violence organization. Plans for partnerships with Hope Rescue Mission in Reading, City Gate in Coatesville, CityTeam Chester and Philly House are underway, the nonprofit said.
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