How Middle School Student Srikanth Akkineni Fights Food Insecurity Through Fashion
Olivia Deng
A Young Changemaker Takes Action
At just 12 years old, Srikanth (Sri) Akkineni from Acton, Massachusetts, is already making a significant impact in the fight against food insecurity. In one way, he’s just like any other middle schooler, with interests in basketball, sports, video games, and TV. But he has high ambitions to make good for his passion for change. Through Joombi, the apparel business he founded, Sri has donated earnings to Project Bread to help families across Massachusetts access and afford the food they need.
While many kids his age are focused on school and hobbies, Sri is driven by a desire to help others. "On a basic level, people should have shelter, people should be fed, and people should have water. So this is important for me, and I really want to help,” he explains.
His compassion and determination have inspired not only his family but also his broader community. Through Joombi’s business model, Sri is proving that anyone — no matter their age — can be a force for positive impact.
Joombi: Turning Business into a Force for Change
Joombi sells sustainable t-shirts, sweatpants, and bracelets — everything is made with recycled and/or sustainable materials such as 100% cotton, lyocell, recycled plastic, hemp or wool with carbon footprint and waste reduction in mind. Focusing on “eco-fun living,” which Sri defines as making sustainable choices that are playful, joyful, and expressive, Joombi is more than just a company: it’s Sri’s vision for change.
Sri’s business offers a range of products, but what makes it unique is its built-in charitable mission: a portion of Joombi’s proceeds go directly toward fighting food insecurity.
“I started Joombi because I wanted to do something that would help our planet and make people feel good about the choices they make,” he says. “I love listening to rap artists and discovering new songs. I liked how they expressed their feelings through words and singing. I wanted to express myself too…but also do good for the planet. I love wearing lounge clothes in my daily life and see my friends doing the same. I figured that many would want to as well. Maybe I could express myself through clothing and other objects. That’s how Joombi was born. I started sketching symbols and expressions onto paper and old t-shirts I had. Since then, I have been working on refining them by working on multiple versions and also collaborating with local artists to help make the expressions better.”
Sri wanted Joombi to be about more than just selling products. By embedding social impact into his business, Sri makes it easy for everyday consumers to become part of the solution. Whether it’s through purchasing Joombi’s products or supporting his fundraisers, customers know their money is helping families put food on the table.
The Inspiration Behind the Mission
Sri’s passion for fighting food insecurity started at a young age. When he learned that kids his age were going to school hungry, he felt compelled to take action. He noticed restaurants throwing away loaves of bread and other food items every evening at closing time. In 2021, at the age of 8, Sri started a change.org petition that would send a letter of change to Senator Elizabeth Warren and other government officials to help put stop gates and regulate food waste at restaurants. To his surprise, his petition took off and he had over 3,800 signatures in a short time. This motivated Sri and got him thinking.
“There are a lot of things I care about. I care about the world, and I want to stop climate change, and I want to help raise awareness for sustainability and food waste and help people not go hungry and receive basics such as food, water, and shelter.”
Sri
Determined to make an impact, Sri donates to Project Bread. Sandhya Pillalamarri, Sri’s mom, has participated in Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger for years. Sandhya introduced Walk for Hunger to Srikanth at a young age and Sri has memories of participating since age 4.
"I love that Project Bread started locally in Massachusetts and cares about the problems I care about and works with the state to make change happen. Many charities donate and help but what makes Project Bread interesting to me is the impact they make through legislative change. I’ve always loved learning more about history, policy, and politics. I recently spoke with Massachusetts Senator Jamie Eldridge, and he told me that anyone can create an impact and that young people should reach out to state representatives with their thoughts. So, when I learned of how Project Bread helped push the free school lunches bill to pass, that was great! That made me happy,” Sri says. “These values are what I believe in and what Joombi stands for — helping people, being resourceful, and giving back to the community.”
By fundraising for Project Bread, Sri helps feed kids, provides compassionate support to FoodSource Hotline callers, and advocates for systemic change.
For Sri, learning about Project Bread has been both educational and inspiring. "I realized not only can you solve hunger, but you also work with the Massachusetts legislature to make change happen. I am inspired by that. I want to do that too.”
The Power of Youth-Led Social Impact
Sri’s work with Joombi and Project Bread is a powerful reminder that age is no barrier to making a difference. By combining his creativity and compassion with Project Bread’s expertise, he has helped provide meals to countless families in need.
His efforts have also inspired his peers and community. Friends, family, and neighbors were Joombi’s first customers. “ My friends know about my company Joombi. Sometimes they're like, ‘Oh, what are you gonna do with all this money you make?’ I am fortunate to have food, shelter, and water. So, I want to help give back. And then educate everyone about giving back. Some of my friends also donate, and I try to spread awareness as much as I possibly can,” Sri says.
Leading the Fight Against Hunger
Project Bread continues to lead the charge in addressing food insecurity in Massachusetts, working with people with lived experience and creating systemic solutions that address the root causes of hunger. With the support of dedicated advocates like Sri — and through socially conscious businesses like Joombi — we can keep our programs running and help more people by expanding our reach.
Sri’s story is a testament to the fact that compassion and action know no age limit. Through Joombi, he is proving that businesses can be a force for critical causes, even when led by someone as young as 12. His fundraisers with Project Bread are a heartwarming example of how creative acts — whether through a bake sale, a business, or a fundraising drive — can have a significant impact.
Through his inspiring efforts, Sri reminds us all that it doesn’t take years of experience or a large organization to make a meaningful impact — it takes heart, determination, and the courage to take the first step.
Project Bread welcomes partners to work with us.
Your partnership is the difference that can make our shared vision to solve hunger a reality. We offer a wide range of partnership opportunities that can be customized to meet common objectives, from Walk for Hunger sponsorship to program-specific alignment to employee engagement.