LSU graduate turns discarded fraternity food into 10,000 meals
A simple observation about food waste at Louisiana State University led former student Will Grand to start Giving Greek, a student-run organisation that has donated more than 10,000 meals to a Baton Rouge homeless shelter. Grand was recently recognised by US Senator Bill Cassidy, who praised his initiative for inspiring community service and helping people in need
A former Louisiana State University (LSU) student initiated a community effort after observing that large amounts of food were being discarded after meals on campus. The student, now known as Grand, formed a student-run organization called Giving Greek, which has since donated more than 10,000 meals to Baton Rouge's St Vincent de Paul homeless shelter.
Grand's journey began with his junior year at LSU, where he started noticing trays of untouched food being thrown away after every dinner. Rather than accepting the waste, Grand wondered whether the food could be redirected to those in need. He contacted St.Vincent de Paul in Baton Rouge to inquire about their acceptance of food donations. The shelter agreed, marking the beginning of Giving Greek.
The organization's first experience came during Grand's first visit to the shelter with the donated food. A man approached his car, eager to pay for a meal, only to be informed that the meal was free. The man then asked if he could take another plate for a friend who had not eaten in days. This moment solidified Grand's commitment to reducing food waste and helping people facing hunger.
As the organization grew, more students from various fraternities and sororities on LSU's campus joined the initiative, transforming Giving Greek into a larger community effort. Beyond donating meals, the volunteers organized Christmas toy drives, distributed blankets during freezing weather, and continuously sought new ways to support the local community.
Grand's experience with Giving Greek has revealed a surprising aspect of his work. He notes that it wasn't the sheer number of people in need that surprised him, but rather the number of individuals who wanted to help. Despite graduating from LSU, Grand continues to support the organization by organizing volunteers weekly. He has also transferred leadership to younger students to ensure the program's continuity on campus.
Grand hopes that the programme will expand to universities across the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Currently, he is pursuing a career in dentistry while maintaining his commitment to community service.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
