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 and gardening events, 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
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.
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Henry Tannler
Grants Manager
Henry grew up in Portland, Oregon, where the diverse geography and beautiful, green landscapes cultivated a love for nature. He received a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from the University of Oregon, with a focus on policy, planning, and sustainable design. Since moving to southern California, Henry has immersed himself in the nonprofit world, working for organizations that address the crises of homelessness and food insecurity in Los Angeles. Through the use of data-driven storytelling, he hopes to inspire community action, amplify the voices of vulnerable populations, and help create a more sustainable future.
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Candy Angel
Food Recovery Manager
Escandia “Candy” Angel is a bilingual community advocate and cultural organizer with over 36 years of experience in child welfare, youth justice, and promoting equitable access to education and the arts. Rooted in the Indigenous Tongva Gabrielino land, Candy is deeply committed to advancing social equity, cultural preservation, and environmental justice.
She has led nonprofit initiatives, coordinated large-scale cultural events, developed inclusive curricula, and built enduring community partnerships across Los Angeles. Her areas of focus include environmental justice, food sovereignty, educational equity, child welfare, and cultural heritage preservation.
Rooted in cultural expression and a deep belief in transformative change, Candy strives to reshape public and educational spaces into environments that prioritize inclusivity, justice, and sustainable practices such as food recovery. Through her efforts, she fosters community awareness, strengthens connections, and promotes lasting impact—where culture, creativity, and collective empowerment converge to build resilient and equitable futures.
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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Amy Favat worked as an Executive Producer in the advertising industry in Boston for many years before retiring to volunteer full time.
From 2008 - 2014 Amy worked as a volunteer at the non-profit, REACH Beyond Domestic Violence in Boston in their shelter for survivors while also serving on their Board of Directors and fundraising committee.
From 2014 until presently Amy works as a regular volunteer at the drop in center at Safe Place for Youth (SPY) in Venice, a non-profit that provides support and housing to unhoused young adults.
She also served on their Board of Directors and annual fundraiser committee for ten years.
From 2024 until presently Amy has worked as a volunteer at A Sense of Home, a non-profit that provides life long support and housing to young people aging out of the foster care system. She also serves on their newly formed Board of Directors in LA.
Amy has spearheaded many enterprises centered around social issues within the community. The first being 100 Pieces which is a yearly silent art auction that raises money and awareness for
A Sense of Home. Since starting the event in 2014 it has raised over $300,000.00.
In 2017 Amy also created the Lost & Found initiative which is a collective of volunteers who collect discarded items from LA gyms to be sorted and cleaned and given a new life to the unhoused community at Safe Place for Youth.
During the recent LA fires, Amy created alongside her daughter, The Venice Giving Garage, to provide much needed essentials, supplies, and clothing to folks impacted by the fires.
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Owen is a Los Angeles native who has spent his life working to grow community by connecting people of all ages to soil and food. He currently works in Development for The Nature Conservancy where he works to protect the natural world throughout Southern California. He spends his weekends building gardens to increase food sovereignty through Nourish LA’s Good Karma Gardens Project.
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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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Lara Shortz counsels management through their most complex employment matters—ranging from pivotal executive transitions to sensitive workplace issues and large-scale workforce changes—with decisive leadership, sharp strategic insight, and a pragmatic, solutions-driven mindset.
A formidable litigator, Lara has built a remarkable record of success in state and federal court. She regularly defends businesses in cases involving gender-based claims—such as pay equity and #MeToo-related actions—as well as wage and hour class and collective actions under PAGA. Her litigation experience also includes dozens of single-plaintiff claims involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. For many years, she led Michelman Robinson’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, and she remains a go-to lawyer for employment disputes that demand both strategic and sensitive handling.
Recognized multiple times by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the most influential women attorneys in the city, Lara’s advisory practice spans contract negotiations, restrictive covenants, WARN Act compliance, and workforce-related risk management across industries, including hospitality, gaming, and consumer products. She blends sharp legal judgment with a grounded understanding of business operations, helping organizations navigate pivotal moments with clarity and impact.
As Office Managing Partner in Los Angeles, Lara is a key architect of the firm’s growth and culture. She launched M&R’s ONE:LA initiative to drive lateral recruitment, professional development, community engagement, and internal retention—four pillars that continue to shape the firm’s presence in Southern California.
Lara’s leadership extends beyond her legal practice. She is a frequent speaker at industry events and remains active in civic and philanthropic initiatives, serving on the board of directors of Nourish LA—a nonprofit redefining food justice in Los Angeles. Lara also continues to mentor the next generation of lawyers at the firm. In 2024, she was named an Inspirational Women Leadership Awards Nominee by the Los Angeles Times Studio.
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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.
