Ever wonder if your neighbors have enough to eat?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, founder Natalie Flores noticed families in L.A. facing hunger while tons of edible food went to waste. Determined to bridge this gap, she connected surplus food from local sources to those in need. As a gardener, community advocate, and non-profit veteran, Natalie launched Nourish LA (Nuestros Alimentos) to make a difference.
Today, Natalie and her team feed over 1,000 people weekly, composting leftovers to reduce waste. Nourish LA also hosts community events like seedling giveaways, gardening, and clothing drives, fostering connection and care.
We believe nourishment is about food and community, spreading love one bag at a time.
24.1% of landfills are
food waste
That means
30-40% of the food supply & 1/3 of food produced
is being wasted.
This is approximately
1.3 billion tons and
$400 billion USD
worth of food.
In 2023, we recovered and distributed
1,007,574
pounds of food to
46,110
Angelenos in need
Our food recovery partners
Individual donations
from our partners in Los angeles
Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Send us a message and a Nourish LA member will reach out to you.
Our Staff
Natalie Flores-Blackner
Founder and CEO
Natalie Flores-Blackner is a mom, wife and passionate advocate for community empowerment and sustainable food systems. With a background in community engagement and urban farming, Natalie has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between people and their food sources. As a former Community Engagement Coordinator, she worked tirelessly to foster connections within diverse communities, empowering individuals to take an active role in shaping their local food landscape.
Driven by her commitment to addressing food insecurity and environmental sustainability, Natalie founded NourishLA, a groundbreaking nonprofit organization. Under her leadership, Nourish LA has become a driving force in the fight against food waste while simultaneously promoting community well-being. Through innovative urban farming initiatives and educational outreach programs, Natalie and her team work tirelessly to promote access to fresh, healthy food and to cultivate vibrant, inclusive community spaces.
With her dynamic leadership and unwavering dedication, Natalie continues to inspire positive change, transforming neighborhoods and lives one seed at a time.
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Jess Castillo
Operations Manager
"As a single, solo mom, I understand firsthand the daily challenges of providing healthy, affordable food for my family. I'm passionate about ensuring that all families, regardless of their circumstances, have access to nutritious meals.
I'm inspired by our mission to help people in my community who are struggling with food insecurity and to empower them to make healthy food choices. In my role as Operations Manager, I'm responsible for overseeing the efficient and effective operations of Nourish LA's food distribution.
Outside of work, I'm a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a sport that teaches me discipline, perseverance, and the importance of community. I also have a deep love for all animals and enjoy spending time volunteering at local shelters.
I'm excited to continue contributing to Nourish LA's mission and working towards a future where everyone has access to the nutritious food they deserve."
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Brooke Ramos
Volunteer Coordinator
"Brooke is a dedicated advocate for social and environmental causes, bringing over 20 years of leadership experience to her work. Her diverse background, from managing organic farms, running small businesses, to working alongside honey bees, has given her valuable insight into how sustainability and community empowerment go hand in hand. Brooke’s role as Volunteer Coordinator is deeply shaped by her personal experience growing up within a food insecure community, and is driven by her belief that collective care is the first step toward creating meaningful systemic change."
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Felix Thomas
Distribution Site Coordinator
Felix is a college student at Santa Monica College, deeply committed to addressing food insecurity in his new home, Los Angeles. Growing up in an underserved community in Mexico, he experienced food insecurity firsthand, which fueled his passion for helping the community. Upon moving to Los Angeles, he discovered Nourish LA and recognized it as an ideal way to make a meaningful impact. Felix loves engaging with his community, running, and spending time with his family and friends.
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Emily Lopez
Distribution Site Coordinator
Emily is a young Latina woman who was born and raised in South LA, and passionate about giving back to her community. She is pre law at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), with a strong desire to advocate for justice. With a strong commitment to making a positive impact, Emily wishes to create meaningful change within the legal system. She wants to be a voice for the people that are not fortunate enough to advocate for themselves.
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Jessica Balsam
Community Engagement Coordinator
A lifelong southern Californian with a deep love for the community, Jessica first discovered Nourish LA during the pandemic and was immediately inspired by our work. Since she began volunteering in 2023, her passion and hard work has been undeniable. Her dedication to the mission quickly grew, and she became an essential part of our team. Now, Jessica is excited to bring her positive energy and commitment to the Community Engagement Coordinator role. Outside of Nourish LA, you can find her hiking, volunteering with animal rescues, organizing social events, or spending time with her family, friends, and her cat, Wolfgang the Wise.
Our Board
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Tom Berg is a Los Angeles based engineering leader. His focus on sustainability and scale has delivered many successes in business technology. Tom believes that solving fundamental issues and basic needs - like food security - provides the best foundation for thriving in a complex world.
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I grew up on the east coast and have a BS from the University of Texas-Austin. I am the fundraiser & treasurer for Nourish LA. I have an edible & native landscaping company, Nature’s Helpers, LLC. I have lived in Los Angeles for 20 years, and have a 6 year old boy. I recently started a Gardening with Purpose group in my neighborhood of Mar Vista, and I share a community garden plot with my best friend. I have been involved with Nourish LA since the very beginning, feeding people out of a garage during the pandemic. I am so proud to be a part of an organization that saves food from going into landfills, which feeds over 1,000 people every week organic and nutritious food.
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Peggy is a Marketing leader with 15 years of experience specializing in branding, marketing strategy, and research within the CPG/Food & Beverage space. She is a UCLA alumna and has enjoyed volunteering with Nourish, demonstrating her passion for preventing food waste and addressing food insecurity in the LA community.
In addition to her board service, Peggy enjoys building community, working on creative projects, and mentoring others.
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Ruben Bergtraun is an environmentalist and soil enthusiast working as an environmental analyst for a consulting company in Santa Monica. With a background in environmental science from UCLA, Ruben dedicates much of his free time to gardening—both in his backyard and through community projects around Los Angeles. As a proud member of Good Karma Gardens, a NourishLA initiative, Ruben advocates for food sovereignty and community growth in place of traditional lawns.
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Lang is a dedicated entrepreneur and business strategist with over 20 years of business development experience. Her passion for sustainability, community empowerment, and philanthropy drives her commitment to creating meaningful change. Raised by immigrant parents who faced financial hardships in Los Angeles, Lang brings a deeply personal understanding of the importance of addressing food insecurity in her community.
As a board member of Nourish LA, Lang leverages her expertise in creative business development, marketing, and strategic partnerships to further the organization’s mission of feeding underserved communities and promoting sustainability. In her spare time, Lang enjoys cooking, baking, exploring the outdoors, traveling, collecting and creating pottery, advocating for thrifted and sustainable fashion, and volunteering - all while embodying her belief in living thoughtfully and making a positive impact.
