Interview with LaRayia Gaston, Badass Female Founder of the Lunch On Me Nonprofit

If you think your actions alone aren't enough to make a meaningful change, then read this.

At the age of 14, LaRayia Gaston, working in a restaurant, was confronted with food waste – a common occurrence in the food industry. Witnessing a homeless man rummaging through a trash can for food, she decided to give him the waste food instead. Unbeknownst to her, this act of kindness greatly impacted her life journey. "In that moment, it was straightforward: A man is hungry and I have excess food that would be otherwise discarded," states Gaston. "At that time, I didn't understand that it would lead me to where I am today but it was certainly the eye-opening experience that made me conscious of people’s immediate needs that we can fulfill every day." Today, Gaston serves as the founder and executive director of Lunch On Me, a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles. The organization redistributes organic food that would usually go to waste, providing meals to 10,000 individuals living on the streets of Skid Row monthly. However, their mission does not end at simply distributing meals. Lunch On Me also strives to combat starvation while offering opportunities to enhance the mind, body, and spirit of LA's homeless population, through yoga classes, community gatherings, and therapeutic sessions for women. Discover how Gaston embarked on this journey, why you should pay more attention to issues of hunger and homelessness, and how you can contribute.

Starting Early and Starting Small

"Ingrained in me from a young age, thanks to my religious upbringing, was the concept of 'tithing' - the practice of giving away 10% of what one possesses, usually directed towards charity or the Church. As a 15-year-old who didn't particularly connect with the church, I sought my mother's permission to channel my tithes into feeding individuals instead. Her approval marked the beginning as she emphasized that the mode doesn't matter, fulfilling my part does. After relocating to Los Angeles, I encountered the city's homelessness crisis and decided to continue employing my tithing habit to alleviate it. My approach was versatile; I offered support in whatever form possible. It could be compensating for someone's coffee at Starbucks, buying extra groceries, preparing additional meals during holidays, or even inviting an underprivileged person standing outside a restaurant to dine with me when I was eating alone. This practice resonated more profoundly with me than merely donating money to a church. The joy derived from these direct acts of kindness rendered me a blissful benevolent."

Teaming Up for a Bigger Impact

"For a decade, providing meals privately was how I chose to give back. It was intimate and deeply personal to me. It wasn't until a friend participated in this act of kindness with me that I considered turning this into something larger than myself. But as I ventured into the non-profit world, I found myself disillusioned by what I saw. The focus seemed more on finances and statistics rather than the people they were meant to serve. When I found myself stepping up to cover financial shortfalls for one organization, I made the radical choice to establish my own non-profit. I didn't have experience in running a non-profit but I knew how to show love and compassion to others. I saw value in treating people as individuals rather than numbers. Thus, Lunch On Me was born. Unsure about the next step, I reached out to nearly every friend I had in LA. I proposed we break bread with those living on the streets, delivering cold-pressed juice and vegan pizza to Skid Row. Much to my surprise, 120 people showed up that day, each friend bringing along their own friends. We managed to feed 500 people that first day."

Solving the Hunger Problem

"An initial triumph marked the first day. Yet the question, 'when are we repeating this?' arose, and I acknowledged that I hadn't considered it. The reality of these 500 individuals' imminent hunger struck me. This was when I understood the unending nature of the task until its resolution. So, we agreed on a monthly recurrence. Within a year and a half, our efforts escalated from 500 to 10,000 meals a month. However, implementing this on such a scale necessitated an altered strategy. Thus, I delved into researching food waste and discovered its abundance. Consequently, I initiated conversations with grocery stores about their waste disposal. My proposition revolved around redistributing their food waste, specifically organic, plant-based items, to Skid Row. This choice was not driven by a health agenda, but simply derived from my personal dietary habits. The most formidable hurdle is the widespread dehumanization of the homeless. It's challenging advocating for those deemed inferior by society. Therefore, much effort goes into educating about the circumstances leading to homelessness. The unseen factors include the traumatic experiences and lack of support that contribute to homelessness. Overlooked are the 50 percent of foster kids who end up homeless within six months of turning 18, war veterans without adequate emotional support post-war and medicating without addressing healing, senior citizens unable to cope with a minor rent increase due to limited retirement funds, and lifelong janitors displaced due to gentrification. The suffering behind the path to homelessness often goes unnoticed and unacknowledged. The prevalent privilege and ignorance surrounding homelessness assume that securing employment would solve the problem."

Staying True In the Nonprofit World

"Maintaining your authenticity and connection with your own humanity can aid in handling obstacles more smoothly by guiding you through the heart's voice. Never lose sight of it amidst the intricacies of rules and systems." Intrigued? Direct yourself to the Lunch On Me website and their CrowdRise page where you can contribute or explore other ways to extend support.