Volunteer with your local chapter.
Akshaya Patra USA runs on chapters: teams of neighbors who put on events, raise funds, and build support in their own cities.
Every chapter event and every dollar raised locally flows into the same place: the world’s largest NGO-led school meal program.
What a chapter actually does
A chapter is a volunteer team in your city. The work is local, hands-on, and visible. Here is what a typical year looks like.
Community events and galasChapters host the dinners, cultural nights, and gatherings that bring local supporters together.
Peer-to-peer fundraising drivesCampaigns around Diwali, Giving Tuesday, and year-end, run through the chapter’s own networks.
The National WalkathonEvery chapter hosts its own walk on one shared day, with local venues, sponsors, and teams.
Local business partnershipsVolunteers approach nearby businesses for event sponsorships and in-kind support.
Community outreachBuilding relationships with temples, cultural associations, schools, and neighborhood groups.
Mentoring Youth AmbassadorsChapters guide the young people in their city who fundraise and spread the word locally.
Bring your skills to the table
Eight roles chapters need filled. Tick what sounds like you and the matching ones will light up — or just read them all.
Showing all 8 roles
Event Planning & Support
Help organize and run chapter events, from venue and logistics to setup on the day.
Local Fundraising
Rally friends, family, and your own network to fund meals for children in India.
Small Business Engagement
Approach local businesses for event sponsorships, matching gifts, and in-kind support.
Community Engagement
Build relationships with temples, cultural associations, schools, and neighborhood groups.
Chapter Social Media
Run your chapter’s local channels: promote events, post recaps, and grow the local following.
Networking & Outreach
Open doors. Introduce new supporters, donors, and partners to your chapter.
Photo & Video
Capture chapter events so the work is documented and easy to share.
Youth Coordinator
Guide the Youth Ambassadors in your city and connect them to chapter activities.
Not sure where you fit? That is fine. Sign up and we will match you to your local chapter.
Find the chapter near you
36 chapters across the country. See which one covers your city, then sign up and we will connect you with the team there.
More than giving back
Volunteering with a chapter is real work with real returns. Here is what you take away from it.
Verified volunteer hours
Documented hours for school, work, and community service programs.
Certificates of service
Recognition after a year of active volunteering with Akshaya Patra.
Real-world skills
Leadership, event planning, community relations, and teamwork.
A local network with purpose
People in your own city who share your commitment to the cause.
A few hours a month, close to home, with people from your own city.
Sign up to volunteerVolunteering in four steps
From sign-up to your first event. Nothing here happens without someone walking you through it.
Sign up
Fill out the volunteer form and tell us how you would like to help.
Meet your chapter
We introduce you to the volunteer team covering your city.
Choose your role
Pick the work that fits your skills, your schedule, and your interests.
Make an impact
Join events, raise funds, and help feed children in India.
Who can volunteer
Anyone who wants to make a difference, with a professional skill or simply time and enthusiasm. No connection to India needed. Under 18? The Youth Ambassador program is built for you.
How much time it takes
Flexible, and up to you. Many volunteers give a few hours a month, and activity clusters around event dates rather than spreading evenly through the year.
If there is no chapter nearby
Check the chapter map first, since some cover a whole metro or state. Still far? Sign up anyway and we will talk through starting a new one.
Become a volunteer
Signing up is free and takes a few minutes. Tell us where you are and how you would like to help, and we will connect you with your local chapter team.
Questions before you sign up? Email contact@apusa.org, or check the chapter map to see who covers your city.
Volunteer FAQs
Everything worth knowing before you get started.
Why does Akshaya Patra need volunteers?
Who can become a volunteer?
What if there is no chapter in my city?
How much time do I need to commit?
Do I need to be Indian or have a connection to India?
Will I receive volunteer hours or a certificate?
Does my company offer volunteer grants or matching?
How do I get started?
Under 18?
The Youth Ambassador program is designed for ages 8 to 25, with service hours, a letter of recommendation, and our volunteer service award.
Join your chapter. Help feed a future.
Every volunteer brings us closer to a world where no child’s education is limited by hunger. Add your time and talent to the mission.
