Our Story
Meet our founder
Andrea Thomas
Andrea Thomas is the founder of NOURISH food shelf and serves as President of Mount Olivet Lab School, an organization that has empowered families and children in St. Paul for over 40 years. Focused on youth development and food access in the Frogtown, Rondo, and Summit-University neighborhoods, Andrea has been instrumental in transforming Lab School’s Kid’s Café and Free Produce Distributions into a full-scale food shelf now serving nearly 300 families - over 1,000 individuals - across 34 Minnesota zip codes every week.
A trained architect with a professional degree from the University of Tennessee, Andrea has worked with nationally recognized design firms before shifting her focus to community development. She later earned a nonprofit management certificate from the University of St. Thomas and has since become a leading voice in food justice and equity in the Twin Cities.
Andrea’s work has been featured in Twin Cities Business Magazine, TPT’s “Leading Through the Pandemic,” and the City of Saint Paul’s Food Waste Prevention Project. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and a charter member of The Links, Incorporated - both organizations dedicated to service, education, and social justice.
Andrea is passionate about using her creativity and love for people to break down barriers, reduce stigma around food insecurity, and build community across lines of difference. She’s also the proud mom of three adult children - Israel, Immanuelle, and Gabrielle - and enjoys dancing and Iron Chef-style cooking competitions with her son in her free time.
