“Bring Back Krishna Lunch!” is the message echoed by hundreds of supporters who have signed a growing petition urging University of Florida administrators to restore the beloved Krishna Lunch program to campus.
The petition, addressed to Brandi Renton, Vice President for Business Affairs, has attracted a steady stream of signatures from students, alumni, faculty, community members, and supporters from around the world. Recent signatories include Gary Weinkle, Michael Ramey, Srikrishna Vulava, Mohini Balynas, Kate Kovalenko, Sandhya Banik, Jay Patel, Krishna Priya Jani, Radharani Knighten, Julia Janaki Rodriguez, and many others.
For more than five decades, Krishna Lunch has been a familiar sight at the University of Florida’s Plaza of the Americas. According to the petition organizers, the program has served nearly three million affordable, nutritious, home-cooked vegetarian meals since 1971, becoming a cherished tradition for generations of Gators.
The service was suspended following a transport vehicle accident on March 1, 2026. While petition supporters acknowledge that campus safety must remain the university’s highest priority, they argue that communication between university officials and Krishna Lunch organizers has stalled, leaving students and faculty without a valued campus resource.
Petition organizers say they have already developed a solution that directly addresses safety concerns. They report that a fleet of custom electric carts has been secured and is ready for deployment. According to the petition, these carts would eliminate the need for transport trucks on inner-campus walkways while supporting the university’s sustainability goals through environmentally friendly technology.
“Our Demand: We, the undersigned, respectfully urge Brandi Renton, VP for Business Affairs, to reopen lines of communication with Krishna Lunch management,” the petition states. Supporters are asking the university to review the proposed safety upgrades and establish a timeline for restoring the service to the Plaza of the Americas.
https://www.change.org/p/bring-back-krishna-lunch
In addition to signing the petition, supporters are being encouraged to submit personal testimonials describing how Krishna Lunch contributed to their University of Florida experience. Organizers hope these stories will demonstrate the program’s cultural, social, and community impact on campus life.
As signatures continue to accumulate, supporters remain hopeful that university officials and Krishna Lunch representatives can work together toward a solution that preserves both safety and a tradition that has been part of the University of Florida community for over fifty years.