By: Lakyra Banks
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – As a toddler, Hemali Gauri was plagued by an on-set of break-outs and eczema. Through an early diagnosis, she learned that she had a food allergy but the exact food was undetermined.
“We didn’t know what else to test for at that time because there’s so many allergens. So my parents decided to embark on this journey where they eliminated a top allergen from my diet every week,” Gauri recalled.
Through a several month’s long process of food journals, blood tests and elimination diets, at the age of seven, Gauri finally learned that she had developed an allergy to eggs and garlic. That diagnosis caused Gauri to have several questions.
“I always wondered how other kids were diagnosed. Did they have to go through this tedious process,” asked Gauri.
It wasn’t until the summer of 2020, that Gauri reached out to several kids and parents to see their life experience with allergies. Thus, a new nonprofit was born through the creation of “K12Allergies.”
“I didn’t really know anyone with allergies. So that’s why I created a nonprofit during the pandemic because I wanted to make resources more accessible to people with food allergies.”
What Gauri didn’t know is that during that same time period, the pandemic was also creating another issue. According to the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, the pandemic caused a spike in the number of people experiencing hunger.
“When COVID first hit, that number jumped from 70,000 to about 100,000 and we saw that number stay around 100,000,” said Julie Daymer.
Two years later, Hemali learned about the number of people experiencing food insecurity in the Northwest Arkansas area through one of her teachers.
“And I was like wow, this is actually really interesting and then heading back to my own project. I was like, well, I wonder what the range between food allergies and food insecurity is.” said Gauri.
That knowledge led Gauri to want to make a change.
“Food insecurity itself is prevalent, but then food allergies make it more prevalent. So I was like, I have to do something about it.”
Through research, Gauri learned that families impacted by food allergies are twice as likely to experience food insecurity.
“Food is more expensive, like egg free and dairy free milk is off the charts. So, I was like what can I do about this?”
Gauri reached out to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and learned that the pantry doesn’t have a system in place when it comes to allergies.
The Director of Communications for the bank said, “We give out pre-packaged boxes. There’s no way for us to, you know, to go and make those gluten free or allergy free or anything like that.”
After speaking with the bank, Gauri came up with the idea to hold an allergy-friendly food drive.
Gauri said she hopes her drive will help to create more inclusive options in food pantries.
“We don’t have access to like this amazing food allergy institute like people in California do. Having an in-built community here was something that was really important to me.”
Donations can be dropped off February 6th through March 1st at the Fayetteville Public Library Preschool Desk. All proceeds will go to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.