At Mira Costa High School, service usually begins with small steps, but for the UCLA Veteran Affairs Club, those steps have taken students all the way to the UCLA Veteran’s Garden in West Los Angeles, where they are making a big difference. For members of the UCLA VA Club, that means weekly trips, working directly to benefit food-insecure veterans, providing them with fresh produce while building bonds that go beyond gardening.
The club, led by senior Ishaan Aggarwal, began with the goal of assisting people facing food scarcity. Currently, the organization helps feed 1,200 veterans each month by cultivating produce at the garden, simultaneously fostering a space for connection between students and veterans.
“The most important thing that my club does is our volunteering at the 15 acre Veterans Garden,” Aggarwal said. “We give fresh produce directly to veterans, and feed over 1,200 veterans each month, specifically targeting veterans using food stamps.”
The organization began with a simple goal to assist individuals experiencing food insecurity in the community. But for Aggarwal, it was equally about bringing others into that mission, engaging students in a cause greater than personal interest. More than 55 Costa students have joined the effort, volunteering all year round primarily on Fridays and Saturdays in order to tend the garden weekly.
“I started the club because I wanted to make an impact on my community, especially food-insecure veterans who served our nation,” Aggarwal said. “Many of my friends were interested in volunteering, but without an organization they felt lost; our club gave them a place to connect with veterans and gave them volunteer opportunities.”
A culture of collaboration and teamwork has fueled the club’s rapid growth. In contrast to other school clubs that meet occasionally, UCLA VA’s members engage weekly in activities such as growing, harvesting, and distribution produce alongside veterans involved in the VA’s rehabilitation program.
“We have made it our goal for the past three years to volunteer on a weekly basis,” Aggarwal said. “I think what expanded us the most was just reaching out to people, telling them about the opportunity, and raising awareness about food insecurity.”
For social media manager senior Leilani Tran, that consistency makes the club’s story worth sharing. She manages the club’s social media platforms in order to expand its influence and documents moments with veterans.
“Social media helps show people that we are doing far more than gardening, we are transforming lives,” Tran said. “It’s a way to inspire and reach more students to volunteer with us.”
The job extends past the aspect of food. Weekly, students manage and maintain the garden while interacting with veterans and getting the opportunity to hear about their life stories and memories in war. Those conversations have evolved into some of the most meaningful parts of the experience.
“I think people’s favorite part is not just the aspect of gardening, but getting to bond with them,” Aggerwal said. “Every time we go to the farm, we talk to the veterans about their experiences, and teach them the importance of caring for our environment.”
Event Coordinator junior Owen Sowers ensures the volunteering days run smoothly, overseeing task organization, transportation, and communication. For him, the garden is about connections as much as it is about the crops themselves.
“It’s motivating to see the ways simple things, such as working together, turn into memorable conversations,” Sowers said. “Those moments make all of the hard work worth it.”
One of Aggarwal’s favorite memories involves a veteran named Martin, who often joked about his love for fast food. Determined to promote healthier habits, students made him a caprese salad using produce from the garden, which Martin loved.
“The UCLA VA Club has demonstrated that service can be both practical and personal through times like these,” said Aggarwal. ”What started as a handful of dirt has turned into a bridge between Costa students and the veterans they get to help, showing true change when individuals show up week after week.”
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