Akshaya Patra - Five billionth meal celebration

On March 17, 2026, The Akshaya Patra Foundation celebrated a remarkable milestone in India: serving 5 billion midday meals to schoolchildren across the country. The achievement was honored by the President of India, Mrs. Droupadi Murmu, recognizing 25 years of the organization’s commitment to eliminating classroom hunger and empowering children to pursue their education without the burden of hunger.

What began as an initiative serving just 1,500 children has now grown into one of the world’s largest NGO-run school meal programs. Today, Akshaya Patra provides fresh and nutritious meals to more than 2.35 million children daily across thousands of schools in India.

To commemorate this milestone, community leaders, supporters, and volunteers from the greater Phoenix area gathered on May 16, 2026, for a luncheon event in Scottsdale, Arizona. The event celebrated the organization’s achievements while encouraging greater community involvement and volunteer participation throughout Arizona.

The luncheon featured leadership from Akshaya Patra USA, including Vice President Nidhi Kathuria, along with Phoenix Chapter Chairs Amrish Patel, Dr. Manisha Thakkar, Sanjay Pawar, Umesh and Smita Papadkar along with eminent people from the valley like Ajay Bavle, Sunil Kumavat, Kirti Sharma, Kannan Ramachandran and others. Speakers shared the organization’s long-term vision and highlighted additional initiatives such as the Morning Nutrition Program. The leadership team also recognized the impact of the Phoenix chapter, which has helped provide meals to more than 25,000 children over the past few years.



Under the guidance of the Phoenix chapter leadership, local youth ambassadors introduced creative fundraising initiatives ranging from diya painting , Walkathon, 3D Printing events to community galas. The luncheon highlighted how grassroots efforts in Arizona can create life-changing educational and nutritional opportunities for children thousands of miles away. Attendees also learned that a donation of just $20 can help provide nutritious meals for a child throughout an entire school year.

The event further emphasized the importance of increasing community involvement by creating spaces where youth and adults can connect, communicate, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships while contributing to a shared cause in a fun and engaging environment. While much of the chapter’s outreach has been centered in the Chandler area, efforts are now expanding into Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix to bring greater awareness to the organization’s mission.

Whether you are a student, working professional, or homemaker interested in making a meaningful impact, the Phoenix chapter welcomes individuals who want to contribute their time, skills, and support toward the cause. Those interested in getting involved can reach out to nidhi@apusa.org.

As the Phoenix chapter looks toward the future, the milestone luncheon stands as a powerful reflection of Arizona’s growing commitment to global child welfare. Driven by passionate community leaders, dedicated youth volunteers, and generous supporters, the chapter continues to play an important role in Akshaya Patra’s mission to ensure that no child is forced to sacrifice education because of hunger.

Author - Sravya Mantri
Youth ambassador
Akshaya Patra Phoenix Chapter