Nourish LA

Nourish LA's mission is to cultivate a vast network of partnerships to ensure
food is not wasted and people do not go hungry.

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Taylor Yonemitsu stumbled upon Nourish LA by chance two years ago while on a walk through his neighborhood in Mar Vista. A long line of people, stacks of vibrant produce, and an energetic atmosphere caught his eye. The kind and welcoming nature of Nourish LA staff quickly convinced him to volunteer. Since then, Taylor has been volunteering nearly every single week. For 40 years, Taylor’s family has owned and operated a wholesale flower business in the heart of the famous Flower District in Downtown Los Angeles. Originally organized by Japanese-American farmers, the Flower District has a rich history rooted in the determined, hard-working spirit of immigrants who brought beauty and community into the city. Taylor embodies this spirit in his everyday life, spending much of his time caring for his family and neighbors, gardening, and volunteering. Taylor says that volunteering every Sunday with Nourish LA is like church to him. It’s not only an opportunity to give back to the community, but also a space where he can be fully present with others, share in a collective mission, and experience a spiritual sense of belonging. selfless, passionate, and hard-working. Taylor leads by example and completes important tasks without being asked to. If there’s a problem, Taylor will find a solution. He engages with those working alongside him, being a mentor to answer questions, train tasks, or just provide a friendly face to the new volunteers. He is a silent force keeping the mission moving forward, asking nothing in return except for being part of the Nourish LA community.