What started as a simple dessert fundraiser organised by a teenager two years ago has grown into a student-led volunteer project that has rescued more than 300,000 pounds of food for families across Northern Virginia. Which named Mahes a Daily Point of Light Award honoree, the youth group has kept more than 300,000 pounds of food from ending up in landfills, according to profile information from nonprofit organisation Points of Light. Dhevesh Mahes started his sweet treats project to raise money for charity, but the effort soon grew after he connected with local community leaders. He saw how much good food was being thrown away while many local families struggled to afford groceries. Mahes then formed the Nourishin Ninjas, a youth team working directly with Anna Sudha Community Kitchens. Instead, the rescued produce, baked goods and prepared meals are given to families across the region who are facing food insecurity.
Under Mahes’s leadership, the Nourishin Ninjas has raised nearly $52,000 through donations and grants.
In an interview with Points of Light, Mahes said his motivation comes partly from his family. “My grandfather helped people simply because it was the right thing to do,” Mahes said in the Points of Light feature. Mahes said he hopes the group’s work shows how much young people can contribute to their communities right now.
The youth project has also worked to build a reliable source of funding. The money helps pay for operating costs, vehicle transport, storage equipment and emergency food purchases for partner distribution networks. Mahes’s community work also led to his appointment as a Youth Advisor on the board of directors at Anna Sudha Community Kitchens. In that role, he helps with outreach plans and promotes greater involvement by students in solving community problems. He described his grandfather as an important influence who showed him the importance of helping others quietly and without expecting anything in return. He believes teenagers should be seen as active members of civic life rather than only as future leaders who have to wait until they are older. With new business partnerships and fundraising efforts underway, the Nourishin Ninjas continues to expand its weekly food distribution across Northern Virginia.