We recently connected with Parin Chanana. The Co-founder, My Partner, Is Mihir Kakarala. and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Parin, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The idea for Plates to Purpose came to us when I was shadowing my dad, who is a restaurant manager. Over the summer when I was shadowing my dad, I was shocked to see how much perfectly fine, safe-to-eat food got thrown out at the end of every day simply because it couldn’t be served at the restaurant the next day. This experience really stuck with me, and I started thinking about ways to make a difference and to solve this large amount of food waste. I partnered with Mihir Kakarala and a few other high school friends to create a nonprofit. Mihir was participating in an entrepreneurship competition, and we used the opportunity to formally launch this idea of redistributing perfectly fine, safe to eat food that normally gets thrown out by businesses, to local food pantries and homeless shelters. .

Mihir played a crucial role in advancing the mission of Plates to Purpose. His outgoing personality and tireless work ethic allowed us to connect with numerous restaurants and expand our impact. He was instrumental in forging partnerships, reaching out to business owners, and persuading them to donate surplus food rather than discard it. His ability to network and build relationships was key in securing long-term commitments from restaurants, helping us sustain and grow our operations. Since then, we’ve registered Plates to Purpose with the state of Texas, we’ve been actively operating for two years now, and overall, we have redistributed $31,000 worth of food to local food pantries and homeless shelters. .

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Plates to Purpose is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity by redistributing surplus food from restaurants to those in need. The idea for this initiative came to me when I was shadowing my dad, who manages a restaurant. I was shocked to see how much perfectly fine, safe-to-eat food was thrown out simply because it couldn’t be served the next day. This experience stuck with me, and I started thinking about ways to tackle this issue. Mihir, the co-founder and CEO of Plates to Purpose, was participating in an entrepreneurship competition, and we used the opportunity to formally launch this idea of redistributing perfectly fine, safe to eat food that normally gets thrown out by businesses, to local food pantries and homeless shelters. .

Mihir played a crucial role in advancing the mission of Plates to Purpose. His outgoing personality and tireless work ethic allowed us to connect with numerous restaurants and expand our impact. He was instrumental in forging partnerships, reaching out to business owners, and persuading them to donate surplus food rather than discard it. His ability to network and build relationships was key in securing long-term commitments from restaurants, helping us sustain and grow our operations.

Plates to Purpose works by partnering with restaurants that have excess food at the end of each day. Instead of throwing it away, they donate it to us, and we distribute it to local shelters, food banks, and community organizations that serve those in need. In just two years, we’ve successfully redistributed over $31,000 worth of food that would have otherwise gone to waste.

What sets us apart is our grassroots, student-led approach. We started this nonprofit as teenagers, proving that age isn’t a barrier to making a meaningful impact. We also focus on making the process as seamless as possible for restaurants, offering flexible pickup options and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.

One of the things I’m most proud of is seeing the direct impact of our work—whether it’s a restaurant owner excited to be part of the solution, or a local shelter expressing gratitude for the food that helps sustain their community. Looking ahead, we want to expand our reach, form more partnerships, and inspire other young people to take action in their own communities.

For anyone interested in supporting our mission, whether as a donor, volunteer, or business partner, we welcome all the help we can get. Plates to Purpose isn’t just about reducing food waste—it’s about building a more sustainable and compassionate world, one meal at a time.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team and maintaining high morale requires clear communication, a shared sense of purpose, and a culture of appreciation. At Plates to Purpose, we’ve found that keeping everyone connected to our mission—reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity—helps sustain motivation. When team members see the impact of their work, whether through the number of meals donated or the gratitude from people who receive the food, it reinforces their dedication. Collaboration is also key; we encourage open discussions, regular check-ins, and a supportive environment where everyone’s input is valued. Giving team members ownership over tasks also fosters accountability and makes them feel like integral parts of the organization. Recognizing and celebrating contributions, whether through small gestures like thank-you messages or larger acknowledgments for milestones, also goes a long way in boosting morale. Ultimately, creating a positive, purpose-driven culture ensures that everyone stays engaged and committed to the team’s success.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Mihir and I met in middle school and quickly became friends, bonding over our shared interest in entrepreneurship and problem-solving. The idea for Plates to Purpose came when I was shadowing my dad, a restaurant manager, and saw how much food was wasted daily. Around the same time, Mihir was participating in an entrepreneurship competition, and we realized this was the perfect opportunity to turn an idea into action. We teamed up, combined our skills—my insight into food waste and his ability to network and build partnerships—and launched Plates to Purpose. Since then, we’ve worked to grow the nonprofit and expand our impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://platestopurpose.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/platestopurpose/