Hunger Lunch returns with an Indian twist

After a short hiatus, Hunger Lunch is back on campus this week with a slight twist. 

Nourish-UNC, a committee in the Campus Y, is now partnering with Vimala's Curryblossom Café to provide Hunger Lunches on Wednesdays. 

Hannah Smith, the co-chairperson of Hunger Lunch, said it is important that both parties gain a profit and that Hunger Lunch is mutually beneficial. 

Nourish’s main mission is to engage with communities in mutually beneficial partnerships to pursue a socially just world — a mission that drove some of the group's changes to their latest Hunger Lunch.

Hunger Lunch was started more than a decade ago and seeks to raise money for third-world countries. Their profits go toward projects such as one in Rwanda that taught women how to knit.

Smith said Nourish had discussions over new food suppliers after the old supplier, Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers, said Hunger Lunch was costing more money than it brought in.

“We brainstormed over winter break and just last week confirmed Vimala,” Smith said. 

Because Vimala's is a local cafe, Hunger Lunch is able to support its important foreign initiatives while also benefiting the Chapel Hill community.

“We wanted someone locally and not a big chain, so that the money goes back to our community as well,” Smith said.

Smith said they chose Vimala Rajendran because of her amazing background story.

Rajendran started cooking donation-based community dinners in Chapel Hill in 1994. With the support of the community, she opened up Curryblossom Café in 2010. 

Smith said she hopes the partnership will flourish because Nourish members want consistency in the quality of the food and to be able to raise money for their projects. 

Though there is a slight price increase from $4 to $5.50 for the new menu, Smith said, customers should expect great food, just like before the hiatus. There is no doubting the enthusiasm behind the return; Smith said she is confident the students will love the food.

Leah Berolzheimer, a co-chairperson of the partnership and documentation team in Nourish, said the group has always supported Vimala. 

“I grew up here in the Chapel Hill community. We would eat her food at her house before the restaurant," Berolzheimer said. "She’d sell lots of Indian food out of her kitchen, if you couldn’t pay, you ate for free. She’s always been a viable community member and has always given back. UNC students really like her food and restaurant so (we) reached out to her."

Regarding the change in food, Berolzheimer said the food will be similar in quality to how it was before, but will now be Indian. 

“The other thought was that we were trying to think of a place students would like that wasn’t really accessible during the lunch time hour, so instead of students having to go far for a good lunch, we brought it closer,” Berolzheimer said. 

Rush Greenslade, the general manager of Vimala’s Curryblossom Café, said they are excited for the partnership with Nourish. 

“We love what Nourish is doing and are trying to do our part to feed the world. Anything with world hunger and food, education and anything that raises awareness (of) lack of food or healthy food is in our interest,” Greenslade said. 

university@dailytarheel.com