To fight hunger, we must begin to address the root causes. Hunger in the United States is fundamentally a nutritional issue, not a lack of calories. You can have chips and a soda for breakfast and receive the calories for the day, but not have any of the vital nutrients you need to fuel your body and brain. In order to encourage community members to actually reach for nutritious foods, we seek to improve nutrition literacy, reconnect people to where their food comes from, and teach families how to plan meals and store fresh foods.

VEGI seeks to reconnect individuals to where their food comes from and empower them to make healthy choices through nutrition education and teaching gardens. We offer youth, adults, and families hands-on-learning opportunities regarding the entire food life cycle, from seed to compost. These opportunities include in-school and after-school lessons, workshops and demonstrations, and community garden nights. All additional food VEGI grows goes directly to La Puente’s Shelter, which provides home-cooked meals to community members and serves around 80-100 plates per day.

VEGI recognizes each of its supporters and is appreciative of the combined effort it takes to address the “root” causes of local food insecurity. We rely on volunteers, monetary gifts, and donated items. Learn more about supporting our mission in the "What Can I Do To Help?" section above!