{"686545":{"#nid":"686545","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Students Making a Difference: A Q\u0026A With Yellow Jackets Against Poverty President Benjamin Manoj","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhen jogging outside of Piedmont Park,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBenjamin Manoj\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Enoticed what looked like trash in the middle of the road. As the Georgia Tech neuroscience major ran closer, he realized it was a man sitting alone with cars and people veering around him.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI went up to him, and he was crying,\u201d says Manoj. \u201cHe told me his name was Darren, that he was experiencing homelessness, and that people wouldn\u2019t even look at him.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs he spoke with Darren, hugging him and getting him out of oncoming traffic, others began to stop, bringing water, Chick-fil-A sandwiches, and comfort. \u201cI saw how one small gesture inspired others to help,\u201d says Manoj. \u201cIt helped me see the bright side of humanity\u0026nbsp;\u2014 and inspired me to get more involved in helping others.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBack on campus, he looked for ways to make a difference. At the beginning of his sophomore year, he joined the newly formed\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/yellowjacketsagainstpoverty\/\u0022\u003EYellow Jackets Against Poverty\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp; organization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EToday, he leads it \u2014 living out Georgia Tech\u2019s motto of Progress and Service and inspiring others to do the same.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGet to Know Yellow Jackets Against Poverty\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETell us about the club:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManoj\u003C\/strong\u003E: Our main goal is to give back to the community. We\u2019re a hodgepodge and serve in many ways, including building shelters, cleaning up unhoused encampments, creating food and hygiene drives, and volunteering for the after-school program at Boyce L. Ansley School. Our goal is to have at least one activity per week for students to make a difference, but we usually have two or three opportunities. It\u2019s all about helping the community and showing what Georgia Tech students can do.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy did you join?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManoj:\u003C\/strong\u003E When you\u2019re at Tech, it\u2019s such a beautiful place with green spaces and welcoming people. But living on the edge of campus freshman year, I saw the dichotomy between Tech and right outside of Tech. We live such privileged lives, and I wanted to do something to bridge that gap.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow many members do you have?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManoj\u003C\/strong\u003E: We have around 90 active members, and they are all incredible people who want to give back and spread kindness. We\u2019re growing quickly because our message resonates. There are lots of Tech students who want to volunteer\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;they just don\u2019t know how and where.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy is this club important?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManoj\u003C\/strong\u003E: Most clubs at Georgia Tech focus on building your resume, which is great and necessary. But volunteering is transformative. You learn who you are by giving back. You get to interact with your community and make your mark on the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow do you choose events?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManoj\u003C\/strong\u003E: We work with amazing social workers and organizations like\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.intowncares.org\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Intown Cares\u003C\/a\u003E. They do so much good for the community, and we rely on them to help us help them. We also look online for volunteer opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAny success stories or memorable moments that come to mind?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManoj\u003C\/strong\u003E: Every volunteering event has been a success story because it\u2019s an opportunity for people to come together and work for a cause. One event I really enjoyed was when we built shelters and building panels for the unhoused community. All of us were just trying not to whack ourselves with the hammers, but we learned a lot about how to create a shelter that will be used to keep someone warmer in the winter.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWe also recently organized a fundraiser where we sold pieces of pie and opportunities to pie club leadership in the face. From this fundraiser, we created\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E2,000 meals\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ethat we packed and distributed to people experiencing homelessness in our community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are your goals as president?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManoj\u003C\/strong\u003E: My goal is simple: do as much as we possibly can. Whether that\u2019s hosting coat drives, doing a STEM activity at an after-school program, or volunteering at a soup kitchen, we want to make an impact and push the message of kindness. Nobody should be left out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnything else you want people to know about the club?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManoj\u003C\/strong\u003E: I\u2019d like to make it abundantly clear that anybody is welcome to come to our events, not just Georgia Tech students. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, family, and friends are all welcome. For example, our wonderful faculty advisor,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EHeidi van de Wouw\u003C\/strong\u003E, who teaches in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is an active volunteer at the Boyce L. Ansley School and entertains all of the kids with her infectious laugh!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow can people get involved?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManoj\u003C\/strong\u003E: Follow us on\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/yellowjacketsagainstpoverty\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Instagram\u003C\/a\u003E or\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/web.groupme.com\/join_group\/110407892\/rHwrojE7\u0022\u003EGroupMe\u003C\/a\u003E for updates.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFighting poverty and fostering kindness, the student-led Yellow Jackets Against Poverty Club makes a hands-on difference in the lives of those in need.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Fighting poverty and fostering kindness, the student-led Yellow Jackets Against Poverty Club makes a hands-on difference in the lives of those in need. "}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2025-11-19 19:32:52","changed_gmt":"2025-11-20 17:34:45","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-19T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-19T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678676":{"id":"678676","type":"image","title":"Benjamin Manoj (front) and other Yellow Jackets Against Poverty members dig holes for the foundation of a new homeless shelter.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBenjamin Manoj (front) and other Yellow Jackets Against Poverty members dig holes for the foundation of a new homeless shelter.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1763580817","gmt_created":"2025-11-19 19:33:37","changed":"1763580817","gmt_changed":"2025-11-19 19:33:37","alt":"Four students holding pickaxes stand in 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outreach"},{"id":"187282","name":"club and volunteer activities"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by Laura Segraves Smith\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}