Food waste in the United States is a major ecological and moral problem. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans in 2015 wasted 31% — or 133 billion pounds — of their overall food supply.
This is a tremendous waste of natural resources, contributes to climate change, and squanders food that could be saved for the country’s most vulnerable. Two years ago, the EPA decided to address the issue by announcing a new goal of reducing food waste by 50% by 2030.
The students at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth have stepped up to meet the challenge of reducing food waste. Last spring, students organized to create the TCU Food Recovery Network. It began by donating leftover food from its dining halls to the Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County homeless shelter. When the football season started, the group expanded its donation efforts by collecting the unused food served in the suites and club seats at each TCU home game.
The haul from their first game netted over 1,000 pounds of food for the shelter. “Everything that gets brought here gets used,” Robert Clethan, the food services director at the Union Gospel Mission, told the Star-Telegram. After the game, the food is frozen then transported to the shelter by the TCU Food Recovery Network the next day. The donations consist of delicious game-day munchies — including brisket, chicken wings, cornbread, potato salad, and cookies.
The Union Gospel Mission serves meals to about 300 people three times a day, so the food is truly a godsend. According to its website, its mission is “providing love, hope, respect and a new beginning for the homeless. We strive to end homelessness one person at [a] time.”
TCU’s efforts are a wonderful example for universities everywhere looking to reduce food waste while aiding their communities. “People really want to help out, but they don’t know how to help out sometimes,” Clethan said. “They just need to know there’s a place like this that can use things like that.”
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.