About Joy Market
We're a student-led organization founded at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, committed to turning food waste into food security for our community.
Our Team
Meet the students making Joy Market happen—organizing events, building partnerships, and moving food from surplus to support.
Maximus Lee
Founder & Leader
Started Joy Market to turn surplus into support. Coordinates partnerships and strategy.
Reagan Shibuya
Co-Leader & Media Manager
Tells the story—clearly and visually. Manages social media and brand presence.
Sebastian DePaulo
Co-Leader & Communications Lead
Connects partners, volunteers, and community. Leads outreach and relationship building.
Abbie Her
Co-Leader & Event Planner
Designs events that move goods—and hearts. Coordinates logistics and volunteer activities.
Our Approach
Three principles guide everything we do
Grocer Partnerships
We work directly with grocers to identify slow-moving inventory before it becomes waste. This benefits their bottom line while creating social impact.
Community Distribution
Through trusted partners like KFAM, we ensure food reaches families with dignity, cultural sensitivity, and care—not just transactions.
Transparent Pricing
When we offer food at steep discounts, families keep their autonomy and choice. We believe in access, not charity.
In Partnership With
Korean American Family Services
We're proud to partner with KFAM to distribute food for Korean and broader Los Angeles communities. Together, we're making nutritious food accessible and reducing waste.
Learn about KFAMOur Story
Joy Market began with a simple observation: good food was being wasted while families struggled to afford groceries. Our founder, Maximus Lee, recognized this wasn't just an environmental problem or a social problem—it was both, and they were connected.
Starting in 2024, a small team of students at Harvard-Westlake School decided to do something about it. We reached out to local grocers, connected with community organizations, and built a model that turns surplus into support.
Today, Joy Market is growing. We've partnered with KFAM, hosted awareness events, run food drives, and assembled care packages for families. But this is just the beginning. We're working toward formalizing grocery partnerships, expanding our network, and making this model sustainable and scalable.