A program of Baba Neem Karoli Satsang, 501(c)3
About Us
In 1998, our founder John Visnauskas, also known as Jagadish, had a pivotal moment in his life. Happening to pass what was then called Cleveland Foodbank, he wrote down a phone number from the sign outside the urban warehouse.
Soon a volunteer position turned into an Operations Management position, followed by decades of service founding, directing, mentoring, and partnering with dozens of anti-hunger organizations working together to combat food insecurity in Greater Cleveland, Ohio.
In 2019, John became director of Baba’s Yard, a nonprofit organization that promotes plant-based nutrition. Between 2019 and 2021, Baba’s Yard distributed two hundred tons of fresh fruits and vegetables to households with limited incomes in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and the municipalities of Parma and Brooklyn, Ohio.
In 2021, Baba’s Yard began offering delicious, plant-based meals-to-go at our garden sanctuary located on Cleveland’s West Side.
Beginning in 2023, these meals are available for pickup at Baba’s Yard Garden Sanctuary.
Tuesday Lunches in the News
Parma Observer | March 1st, 2023
PARMA, OHIO — More and more frequently, people are remembering the importance of increasing their consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Parma Sun Post | July 9th, 2020
PARMA, OHIO — More than a year ago John Visnauskas created nonprofit Baba's Yard with the simple food-is-medicine being to reduce epidemic disease by increasing fresh produce consumption.
Fox 8 Cleveland | May 7th, 2019
PARMA, OHIO — 50 tons of produce?! That' what a new non-profit called Baba's Yard hopes to distribute to low-income families in the Cleveland area by year's end.
Spectrum News 1 | June 7th, 2022
CLEVELAND — Chef Pauli Kala said he comes into this kitchen twice a month, excited to share his cooking and culture with his community.
Fox 8 Cleveland | July 16th, 2019
CLEVELAND, OHIO — FOX 8 and Kaulig Giving would like to salute John Visnauskas as one of Cleveland’s Own.
Cleveland.com | March 26th, 2019
BROOKLYN, OHIO — After spending the last decade running Old Brooklyn's All Faiths Pantry, John Visnauskas has moved on to his next nonprofit, which boasts the simple mission that food is medicine.
Spectrum News 1 | May 7th, 2021
CLEVELAND — John Visnauskas believes that fresh produce doesn't only heal bodies, but it can also help heal communities as long as they have access to it.
News 5 Cleveland | June 24th, 2019
BROOKLYN, OHIO — A local man had a dream to eliminate hunger in the area and is starting to take the steps to do just that.