When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the world seemed to pause—but at NEST4US, our mission to serve never did. While safety concerns and lockdowns changed how we operated, they never changed why we do what we do. Rather than slowing down, we leaned into innovation, resilience, and community.
Suddenly, traditional service projects became impossible. Food rescues, tutoring sessions, and volunteer gatherings had to be reimagined. Yet instead of viewing these challenges as setbacks, we saw them as opportunities to adapt and grow. The question guiding us was simple:
“How can we keep giving, safely?”
From that question came some of our most innovative efforts yet. Our food security efforts through NEST Nurtures expanded, implementing socially distanced food rescues, contactless drop-offs, and collaborative drives to continue feeding families, while keeping both volunteers and recipients safe.
Virtual volunteering became the new norm—our NEST Tutors program expanded to provide free online tutoring for students struggling with remote learning, while our new kindness campaign, “Spread Kindness Not the Virus”, reached new heights through digital engagement, workshops, social media movements, and interactive service challenges to keep youth engaged and inspired during uncertain times.
Through these collective efforts, we didn’t just sustain our programs…we strengthened them. Each project became a powerful reminder that even when we couldn’t gather in person, we could still come together in purpose.
NEST4US didn’t just survive the pandemic—we grew stronger, more creative, and more committed than ever to empowering communities through kindness. What began as a moment of uncertainty transformed into a movement of compassion and innovation.
The pandemic taught us that service isn’t limited by circumstance—it adapts, evolves, and endures. We reached new communities, inspired diverse communities, and continued spreading kindness when the world needed it most.
After all, even in the hardest moments, kindness always finds a way. And at NEST4US, that belief continues to guide everything we do.
—Shreyaa & Esha Venkat, NEST4US Founders, August 2021
