We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jesse Aguilar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jesse below.

Jesse, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

Yes, my business serves an underserved community. Operation Nourish was founded to support veterans, particularly those who are transitioning out of the military and struggling to reintegrate into civilian life. Too often, veterans face barriers such as food insecurity, unstable housing, lack of access to mental health resources, and difficulty finding community support. These challenges leave many veterans underserved, despite their years of service and sacrifice.

One story that reminds me why this work matters comes from a homeless veteran I met at a local outreach event. He had served overseas but, after leaving the military, struggled to find stability. Without consistent meals or a support system, he felt forgotten. Through our program, we were able to provide him with food, connect him to local resources, and—most importantly—remind him that he is not alone. That moment underscored why Operation Nourish exists: to meet the immediate needs of veterans while also empowering them to rebuild their lives with dignity.

Our brand serves this community by creating pathways of support—through food distributions, community partnerships, and advocacy—ensuring that veterans have access to resources and feel seen and valued. By focusing on those who are too often overlooked, we help close the gap between service and support.

Jesse, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a student veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of Operation Nourish, an organization created to serve veterans, student veterans, and underserved communities. My journey into this work began after my military career was unexpectedly cut short. I was medically retired due to a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a condition that brings constant, daily pain and fatigue. It was a difficult reality to face—one moment I was serving my country, and the next I was left with an invisible illness that changed the way I lived my life.

The transition was not easy. As a student veteran, I had to navigate school, family, and the emotional toll of losing the career I thought I’d have for life—all while pushing through pain every day. Yet through those challenges, I found a new mission: to continue serving those who once served with me. Operation Nourish was born out of that commitment.

Operation Nourish provides food assistance, connects veterans and student veterans to resources, and builds community partnerships that address real gaps in support. What sets us apart is that we don’t just provide resources—we provide understanding. Because I live with chronic pain and the challenges of transition myself, I know what it means to feel unseen or to wonder if the struggle is worth it. Every day, despite my condition, I choose not to give up because I know other veterans are out there facing their own battles, both visible and invisible.

I am most proud of the fact that even on the hardest days, when my body is telling me to slow down, I still find ways to make an impact. Whether it’s helping a homeless veteran reconnect with resources, supporting a student veteran who is overwhelmed by school and life, or collaborating with community partners to widen our reach, those victories remind me that service never truly ends—it just takes a new form.

What I want people to know about me and Operation Nourish is that this work comes from a place of lived experience and resilience. My military service may have ended sooner than I planned, but my mission to serve continues. Chronic pain may shape my day-to-day life, but it does not define me—it fuels me to ensure that no veteran or student veteran is left behind.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in my life came after serving 10 years in the military. I had planned to make it a lifelong career, but that dream was cut short when I was medically retired due to fibromyalgia. It was a life-altering moment—one day I was serving with pride, and the next I was faced with chronic pain, the loss of the career I had built my identity around, and the uncertainty of what my future would look like.

At first, the transition was overwhelming. I had to start over as a student veteran, balancing classes while managing daily pain and the mental toll of leaving behind the uniform I wore for a decade. But in that difficult season, I realized something important: even though my military service had ended, my mission to serve didn’t have to.

That pivot became the foundation for Operation Nourish. What started as a small effort to provide food and resources for veterans has grown into a mission-driven organization dedicated to supporting veterans, student veterans, and underserved communities. Instead of letting my medical retirement define me, I turned it into fuel to continue serving in a new way.

That experience taught me that setbacks don’t end your mission—they can redirect it. My 10 years in service shaped who I am, but it’s the pivot after that service that gave me the opportunity to impact lives in ways I never imagined.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Funding my businesses has never come from large investors or big start-up capital—it has been built on sacrifice, determination, and community support. When I launched Operation Nourish, there wasn’t a fund waiting for me. I used small personal savings, community donations, and fundraising efforts to get started. Every dollar mattered, and I had to learn how to stretch resources, build partnerships, and maximize impact with very little. That mindset continues to guide the way Operation Nourish operates today.

At the same time, I also started Gusgeras y Comida Auténtica, my chamoy candy and authentic snack business. I began with a small personal investment—buying ingredients, packaging, and experimenting with recipes. It was a grassroots effort where every sale counted, and every bit of profit was reinvested to grow the business. That hustle not only helped support me financially as a student veteran but also sharpened my skills in marketing, customer service, and entrepreneurship.

Together, these ventures were built from the ground up, not through major capital but through persistence and creativity. Living with fibromyalgia and balancing school as a student veteran, I’ve had to be intentional and disciplined about every decision. What I’m most proud of is that both Operation Nourish and Gusgeras y Comida Auténtica were born out of resilience—proof that with heart and determination, you can build something impactful and authentic even when starting small.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vets.operation.nourish/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-aguilar-289371344

Image Credits

Juan Carmona