Words From Founder and President: Rupesh VN Boddapati

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Whenever we decide to work on something, sometimes it may work and other times it may not work due to varying circumstances. Although we have the idea to initiate the work, it may not manifest, and the founding of GJ-Alleviating Hunger & Food Waste is no exception to this. When I was in my second year at the University of Toledo, I had an idea around November 2018 to engender a volunteer-driven non-profit organization in India that works to transfer food from food providers to impoverished areas. Although I reached out to several areas to research and find more information, the lack of time, infrastructure, and proper understanding of the conditions in India resulted in the plan being put back. Several months passed, and I began to pursue this idea again around June 2019 after having completed my second year. Similar to the process I had tried earlier, I began looking into information and resources that I needed to initiate a non-profit in India; however, medical school admissions, interview preparations, and MCAT preparatory work prevented me from putting in too much work needed to get this moving. Third year started, and the immense workload pushed this back further. However, in November 2019, I met my high-school friend Jacob Delis, and I explained my idea to him. Seeing him passionate and interested in this idea not only reinstated my interest but also drove me to make sure this intangible thought becomes a reality. My fifth semester ended in December 2019, and I began working on this over the winter holidays, and once the new year began, my organization also became officially approved. An idea that I had since November 2018 became a reality in January 2020, and the first ever chapter was established in Michigan. In order to express my gratitude toward my parents, I named this organization after my mom and dad’s first letter of their names: Gita & Jagadish. At the end of the day, all that we need for something to succeed is consistent perseverance and hard-work, and after that, anything can become a reality. We hope to alleviate hunger and reduce waste not only in Michigan but also all around the United States and the world eventually.