Our Story
Is There Dinner?
Ryan Nguyen — Founder & CEO
Unity Provisions began with a simple but painful question: "Is there dinner?" Growing up, our founder Ryan knew what it was like when food was uncertain.
Later, while volunteering at a local food pantry, he saw how hunger could hide behind quiet sacrifices: a parent choosing between groceries and other necessities, or a neighbor masking their need with a smile. When that pantry abruptly closed in 2024, Ryan saw just how fragile food assistance programs could be.
He founded Unity Provisions to build something that could last. What began as a single branch at Boston Latin School has grown into a youth-led network of 35+ branches across 8+ countries. Student leaders have collected thousands of pounds of food and clothing, raised thousands of dollars, and built partnerships with organizations such as the Wang YMCA to keep community-based donation centers running.
Today, Unity Provisions works to make sure no child, family, or community has to wonder again, "Is there dinner?"
Recent Highlight
What One Branch Can Do
North Quincy branch · December 2024
On December 20, 2024, our North Quincy branch collected, sorted, and donated 1,025 pounds of food to the Quincy Community Action Program. It was the largest donation any Unity Provisions branch had made at the time.
It's one example of what a group of students can accomplish when they come together, and a glimpse of what becomes possible as more branches get involved.
Our Impact
Updated as branches around the world collect, give, and grow.
- 6,272lbs
- of food & clothing collected
- $22,376.00
- raised
- 35+
- branches
- 8+
- countries
Currently active in the United States, Canada, India, the UAE, Puerto Rico, Pakistan, Morocco, and England.
Our Community of Support
The organizations and community groups that help our branches do their work.
Partners
Our partners help provide space, guidance, and other support that allows donation centers to serve their communities. Wang YMCA of Chinatown and Mystic Valley YMCA host our program at their branches, helping make donation centers more accessible to the people who need them. We also work with student-led organizations like Food4Philly to extend that reach into more communities.
Wang YMCAMystic Valley YMCA
Food4PhillySupporters
We're grateful for the generous support of organizations and institutions that believe in our mission to fight food insecurity. Their support helps us sustain our current programs, launch new initiatives, and open new branches.
Esther R. Sanger Center for CompassionYMCA
Sodexo
Walmart Spark Good
GoogleAnnual Report
See what we accomplished and where your support went in 2024-2025.
Meet the People Behind It
A closer look at the students and mentors behind Unity Provisions.