Meet the Need Families helping families
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A youth-led, family-run nonprofit in Aurora, Colorado

When a family needs a hand, we meet the need.

We help families with groceries, warm clothing, school supplies and more, starting right here in Colorado and growing to reach families around the world.

Donate now Become a sponsor
  • Colorado nonprofit corporation
  • IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity
  • Founded in 2026
  • Gifts help families, starting in Colorado

Like a family quilt, every piece matters. Every gift becomes part of something bigger.

What we stand for

Our mission

To make sure families in need have the basics: food on the table, clothes for every season, and what their kids need to learn. We are starting right here in Colorado, and plan to help families around the world through trusted partner charities.

What we do

  • Food and groceries

    Groceries, pantry staples and holiday meals for families who need help putting food on the table.

  • Clothing and essentials

    Warm coats, shoes, diapers and everyday essentials, passed on to families with care and respect.

  • School supplies

    Backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils and the basics, so kids can start the school year ready to learn.

  • Youth volunteering

    Our new program for young people who want to help sort, pack and share donations. About the youth program

  • Need-based scholarships

    We will help school-age children pay for school fees, books, supplies and uniforms, based on financial need.

  • Help for older adults

    We will bring essential supplies and support to older adults who are struggling to make ends meet.

  • Help with basic needs

    We will offer short-term help paying for basics, paid straight to the store or provider.

  • Around the world

    As we grow, we will send supplies and support to families abroad through trusted partner charities.

What we believe

  • Family first

    We treat every family we help the way we would want our own family treated: with warmth, respect and privacy.

  • Rooted in tradition

    We carry on what our parents and grandparents taught us. Show up, share what you have, and look after your neighbors.

  • Neighbors helping neighbors

    Our family, friends and volunteers do the work. That keeps costs low, so more of every gift reaches people in need.

  • Every dollar accounted for

    We tell supporters how gifts are spent, and we are happy to answer any question about where your money goes.

About us

Who we are

Meet the Need is a youth-led nonprofit based in Aurora, Colorado. It was founded in 2026 by Advaith Vaka to help families in need get the basics: food, clothing and school supplies.

We are a Colorado nonprofit corporation and an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) charity, overseen by our director, Ashok Vaka. We are starting right here in Colorado, and plan to reach families around the world through trusted partner charities.

  1. April 2026

    Making it official

    Meet the Need is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Colorado.

  2. Fall 2026

    Approved as a 501(c)(3)

    The IRS approved Meet the Need as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

  3. November 2026

    Our website goes live

    Families, donors, sponsors and volunteers can now find us at meettheneedcolorado.org.

  4. Next

    Growing with our community

    We are looking for our first sponsors and more volunteers, growing our new youth volunteer program and planning our first fun run. Later, we plan to help families abroad through partner charities. Will you join us?

The people behind Meet the Need

  • Advaith Vaka

    Founder and youth leader

    Came up with the idea for Meet the Need and leads the effort, including our youth volunteers.

  • Ashok Vaka

    Director

    Oversees how Meet the Need is run and approves how every gift is used.

How to help

Four ways to make a difference

Pick the one that fits you. Each of them helps a family.

  • Give a gift

    Make a one-time or monthly donation online. It takes about two minutes.

    See how to give

  • Sponsor us

    For businesses, clubs and groups. We will thank our sponsors by name in front of the community we serve.

    See sponsor levels

  • Volunteer

    Help at a drive, a fun run or from home. No experience needed, and families are welcome to volunteer together. Young people ages 12 to 18 can join our youth program.

    See volunteer roles

  • Spread the word

    Share our website with family, neighbors, your school or your workplace. More friends means more families helped.

Fun runs and donation drives

  • Community fun runs

    Run, walk or cheer with your family. Entry is free, and donations are optional.

    Date coming soon

  • Donation drives

    Bring food, clothing or school supplies to a drop-off drive near you.

    Date coming soon

Want to hear about the next event? Send us a message and we'll let you know.

Volunteer

Volunteer with us

Give a few hours in person or help from home. No experience is needed, and families are welcome to volunteer together. Pick a role, send us a short message, and we will get in touch with next steps. For a volunteer under 18, a parent or guardian should send the message.

  • Donation drive helper

    Collect, sort and pack food, clothing and school supplies at our donation drives.

    Where
    In person in Aurora
    Good for
    Adults, families and teens 12+
    Sign up

  • Fun run crew

    Set up the course, hand out water, cheer on runners and welcome families at our first free community fun run, coming soon.

    Where
    In person in Aurora
    Good for
    Everyone, including families
    Sign up

  • Event planner

    Help plan our fun runs and drives: find places to hold them, make flyers and organize volunteers.

    Where
    In person or from home
    Good for
    Adults and older teens
    Sign up

  • Sponsor outreach

    Tell local businesses, clubs and faith groups about Meet the Need, and help us find sponsors.

    Where
    Flexible
    Good for
    Adults
    Sign up

  • Skills from home

    Help with social media, photos, graphic design, writing or translation.

    Where
    From home
    Good for
    Adults and teens
    Sign up

  • Host a collection drive

    Run a food, clothing or school supply drive at your school, workplace or place of worship. We will help you plan it.

    Where
    Your school, workplace or group
    Good for
    Anyone, including youth groups
    Sign up

Youth volunteer program

Young people helping their neighbors

Our new youth volunteer program invites young people, ages 12 to 18, to work alongside our family sorting clothing, packing school backpacks and helping with food drives. It's a hands-on way to learn what it means to show up for your community.

Join the youth program

What youth volunteers do

  • Sort and fold donated clothing and coats
  • Pack backpacks with school supplies
  • Help run food and coat drives
  • Plan a service project of their own

Young volunteers always work with adult supervision, and volunteers under 18 need permission from a parent or guardian. An adult from Meet the Need can sign volunteer-hour forms for school and service clubs.

Sponsors

Sponsor a family-run nonprofit close to home

We are looking for local businesses, clubs, faith groups and families to sponsor our work. Sponsors help us plan ahead, and we make sure our community knows who stood behind us.

  • Neighbor

    $250 a year

    • A personal thank-you letter from Meet the Need
    • Your name on our website
  • Great for small businesses

    Family

    $500 a year

    • Everything in Neighbor
    • Your logo on our website
    • A thank-you in our yearly update to supporters

  • Community

    $1,000 a year

    • Everything in Family
    • Your logo on flyers for any fun run or drive we hold during your sponsorship year
    • A framed certificate of thanks for your business

  • Legacy

    $2,500+ a year

    • Everything in Community
    • A donation drive named for your business, if we hold one during your sponsorship year
    • A yearly update on what your support made possible

Questions

Common questions

Can't find your answer? Send us a message and a member of our family will reply.

Who runs Meet the Need?

Meet the Need is youth-led. Our founder, Advaith Vaka, leads our work and our youth volunteers. Our director, Ashok Vaka, oversees the organization and approves how gifts are used. Volunteers from our community help with everything else.

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes. Meet the Need is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN 42-2152421), so your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Keep your email confirmation, and our thank-you letter for gifts of $250 or more, for your records. We were approved in fall 2026, so we may not appear in the IRS online search for a few weeks. Ask us for a copy of our IRS determination letter.

How will my money be used?

Most of every dollar goes to helping people in need: families right here in Colorado first, and later families abroad through partner charities. No one at Meet the Need is paid, and you can ask us any time how gifts are being spent.

How do you decide who gets help?

We help based on financial need. We look at each request, and our director, Ashok Vaka, makes the final decision. Members of our own family can never receive help from Meet the Need.

How can my family ask for help?

Send us a message and choose "Asking for help for my family," or email us. Tell us a little about what you need. We keep every request private. We can't promise help to everyone, but we read every message and will reply.

¿Necesita ayuda para su familia? Escríbanos en español a [email protected].

Can I give every month?

Yes. Choose Monthly when you give by card or PayPal. Monthly gifts help us plan ahead, and you can stop at any time: email us at [email protected] and we will stop it. If you give through PayPal, you can also cancel it yourself under automatic payments in your PayPal account.

Will I get a receipt?

Yes. You get an email confirmation right away. For gifts of $250 or more and every sponsorship, we also email a thank-you letter for your tax records. Lost a receipt? Contact us and we will send a new one.

Can I give in memory or in honor of someone?

Yes. After you give, send us a message with the person's name and their family's email address, and we will let the family know about your gift. We never share the amount.

What do you do with my information?

We only see what you send us, and what Zeffy or PayPal share with us when you give: your name, email and gift, plus your mailing address or a note if you give one. We use it to reply to you and to send receipts and thank-you letters. Requests for help and youth sign-ups are seen only by our director and, when needed, the adults who review help requests or supervise youth activities. We never sell your information. We share it only with the services that handle your gift or message, or when the law requires it. To see or correct what we have, or to ask us to delete anything we don't have to keep for our records, email [email protected].

Can I give food, clothing or other items instead of money?

Often, yes. What we need changes through the year, so contact us first and we will tell you what is needed most and where to drop it off.

Can kids and teens volunteer?

Yes. Our youth volunteer program welcomes ages 12 to 18. For volunteers under 18, a parent or guardian gives permission and contacts us to sign them up. An adult from Meet the Need can sign volunteer-hour forms for school and service clubs. Younger children are welcome to volunteer alongside a parent.

How do I become a sponsor?

Use the contact form below and choose "Becoming a sponsor," or email us. We will send sponsor details and set up a short call at a time that works for you.

Contact

We'd love to hear from you

Questions about giving, sponsoring or volunteering? Email us, or send a message with the form.

¿Necesita ayuda para su familia? Escríbanos en español a [email protected].

We reply within two business days.

Send us a message

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