Atlanta, GA, October 13, 2026: What if the food that restaurants and businesses throw away every day could instead feed families struggling to put meals on the table?
Three Georgia students are helping turn that idea into reality. Renesh Mylapuram, Jiya Patel, and Rayna Gor are leading the expansion of Thrive2Gethr, a student-led nonprofit that connects businesses with surplus food to shelters and communities in need.
“I used to think that donations and drives were the best way to help, but the problem with that was once the drive was over, the impact would cease to exist,” explained Renesh.
That realization led Mylapuram to Thrive2Gethr, a student-led nonprofit dedicated to fighting food insecurity. As COO, he works alongside co-founders Jiya Patel and Rayna Gor to expand the organization’s reach and develop a sustainable food distribution network.
Founded in Columbus, Georgia, in 2023, Thrive2Gethr has grown into a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit coalition with more than 40 student-led chapters and 1,200 members across multiple states. Together, the organization has facilitated over $200,000 in food donations, connecting surplus food from local businesses with shelters and communities in need.
The idea behind Thrive2Gethr is that every day, local franchises and businesses are forced to throw away leftover food. These organizations hesitate to donate it themselves because if an individual gets sick from their food, they fear being sued and facing legal obligations. Instead, they simply throw it away. However, these students have come up with a solution and created a sustainable model that partners with restaurants, franchises, and other food businesses willing to donate their surplus food to local food banks.
Thrive2Gethr’s local student chapters then coordinate pickups and deliver the donations to nearby shelters and community organizations. Rather than relying on occasional food drives, Thrive2Gethr works with businesses to establish recurring collection schedules. A restaurant with surplus food at the end of the day can arrange regular pickups with student volunteers, allowing food to reach families.
This model also provides incentives for participating businesses. Under Section 170(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, eligible businesses that donate wholesome food qualify for enhanced federal tax deductions that can go up to 10%. Thrive2Gethr transfers legal liability from the donating businesses onto itself and then transfers that liability to the food banks to which it donates, using the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act and Georgia’s food donation laws. These laws provide protections for businesses and organizations that donate safe food in good faith.
Today, Thrive2Gethr has chapters in states including Georgia, Texas, Florida, New York, and New Jersey, with its network continuing to expand. Each chapter operates locally while contributing to the organization’s larger goal of reducing food waste and improving access to meals.
One area that Thrive2Gethr has not yet explored is partnering with American Indian business owners, restaurant operators, and franchise owners willing to participate. Many businesses throw away leftover food, and this partnership could help them find ways to donate it instead.
Students interested in joining the effort can also start Thrive2Gethr chapters at their local schools, building local partnerships while receiving support from the organization’s national network. Interested students can contact Renesh Mylapuram on LinkedIn.
Businesses, franchise owners, and community organizations interested in partnering with Thrive2Gethr can visit the organization’s website to apply, contact COO Renesh Mylapuram through LinkedIn, or email Thrive2Gethr@gmail.com to establish a recurring business donation partnership.
Phone Number: 7626995254
Website Link: Thrive2gethr.org/
