A volunteer visit to The Milk Bank inspired Purdue University nursing graduate Larissa Velasquez to turn her love of matcha into a fundraising effort for infants in need of donor milk.

Velasquez launched Matcha for a Greater Love in March 2026. By August, the nonprofit had raised $8,200 through eight pop-up events, according to a Sept. 14 news release. The Milk Bank estimates the donation will provide up to 4,920 feedings of donor human milk.

The idea began with an October 2025 visit to The Milk Bank during a public health clinical experience with fellow Purdue nursing students. The students attended a presentation and volunteered with the organization.

“As soon as I stepped foot into The Milk Bank, I knew I wanted to help,” Velasquez said in the release. “I knew I wanted to make a difference. I saw not just the love that’s here, but the passion and dedication from all the volunteers and workers here.”

She combined that interest with her love of matcha to create a pop-up matcha and green tea stand. According to the release, Matcha for a Greater Love donates 100% of purchases to The Milk Bank.

“We are incredibly grateful to Larissa, Matcha for a Greater Love, its volunteers, and customers for making this donation possible,” said Freedom Kolb, The Milk Bank’s CEO.

Velasquez plans to continue the pop-ups in 2027, adding handcrafted cinnamon rolls to the menu alongside matcha and green tea.

The Milk Bank, founded in 2005, is a nonprofit tissue bank that supplies pasteurized donor human milk to hospitals and families throughout the region. The organization says it distributes more than 700,000 ounces annually and has provided more than 17.9 million feedings since its founding.