ABOUT US

Co-Founder/President

Hi, I’m Andre Yeung, a college graduate and co-founder of Fruit For Homeless, an initiative I started with my sister, Ashley. Our mission began years ago, rooted in our early experiences and a shared desire to address homelessness in our hometown of Los Angeles.

The summer before seventh grade, I interned as a docent at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro. Commuting alone on a two-hour bus ride several times a week, I met many individuals experiencing homelessness, including veterans. Through our conversations, I realized they were kind people facing difficult circumstances. That experience stayed with me and sparked a deep sense of empathy.

The following summer, I volunteered with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Traveling through different neighborhoods opened my eyes to the stark inequalities within our city. Seeing so many people in need made me recognize how fortunate we are—and how important it is to give back.

Fruit For Homeless is our way of taking action. While our resources may be limited, our commitment is not. We believe that even small, thoughtful efforts can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Co-Founder/President

Hi, I’m Ashley Yeung, a college graduate and co-founder of this initiative. I started this project back in middle school after wondering why people experience homelessness and what more our community could do to help.

Over the years, I’ve seen how extreme heat waves have become more frequent and intense. During these conditions, many unhoused individuals are exposed to harsh environments with limited protection—often relying on basic shelter like tarps that may be damaged or inadequate. While we cannot solve every challenge they face, we believe we can begin by helping meet a basic human need: access to fresh, nutritious food.

At the same time, we’ve noticed that many households with fruit trees often have surplus fruit that goes unharvested and eventually wasted due to busy schedules. We aim to bridge this gap by helping redirect that excess produce to those in need.

Through this effort, we hope to not only reduce food waste and support those experiencing homelessness, but also educate and engage the community—especially younger generations—to think creatively about local solutions to social challenges.

Most importantly, we want to send a clear message: the community cares. If you have fruit to share, please call, text, or email us to arrange a pickup. Together, we can harvest fruit, fight hunger, and build a stronger, more compassionate community.

626-487-8929 | info@fruit4homeless.org

Stay connected @fruit4homeless

Our team members are covered by insurance.

A nonprofit founded in 2017 and incorporated as 501(c)(3) in 2019, Fruit For Homeless, Inc. is a youth-led initiative launched by two students/siblings, Andre and Ashley Yeung, from Arcadia High School in California. The organization supports homelessness relief efforts across Los Angeles County. Through community fruit-picking and outreach, our mission is to harvest surplus fruit and redirect it to those in need. In doing so, we aim to fight hunger, strengthen community connections, reduce food waste, promote environmental stewardship, and advance social equity.

Homelessness remains a serious and growing issue in Los Angeles County, with tens of thousands of individuals experiencing homelessness each night and numbers continuing to rise in recent years.

Food waste is also a major global challenge. About 21% of landfill volume is food waste, contributing significantly to methane emissions. In the U.S. alone, an estimated $218 billion worth of food is discarded annually. If recovered, this food could help feed a large portion of the population.