The Food Recovery Network team was excited to attend and volunteer at The 2017 Food Tank Summit! The summit was a time of reflection, learning and service. After the Summit, FRN staff shared their experiences and the moments that inspired them most!

"I had the opportunity to share about FRN with students from schools across the country who are currently studying at American University. The enthusiasm was uplifting to witness, and when their semester is over, they plan to take our mission back to their home communities to fight waste and feed people." - Hannah, Program Manager

“I was delighted with the level of collaboration and teamwork. After breakfast, food tank volunteers helped us package up the food and carry it down to the main lobby. At lunch the fellows from Elevation burger made sure to communicate with me about how long the burgers had been out of the oven. The enthusiasm and helpfulness of everyone at the Summit made the food recovery smooth and easy.” - Shira, Program & Outreach Fellow

“It was amazing utilizing my time to serve the community. The members at Central Union were so grateful and thankful that we were able to bring them nutritious food. Receiving a thank you and smile was a reminder that FRN is doing the right thing and our time is appreciated.” - Danielle, Office Coordinator

“I volunteered at the Food Tank registration desk, where I was fortunate to meet other industry professionals and students interested in improving food systems. I was also able to watch the first half of the summit live.

Something I loved about the summit was its calls to action. A resounding message I heard from the speakers overall was that our world rests on food systems, and therefore improving food systems should transcend politics. In addition to political decisions and technological innovation, building a better food system requires cultural shifts. As chef and activist Jose Andres shouted, we should all ask ourselves ‘where can I be an agent of change?’” - Gaby, Partner Liaison VISTA

I'm grateful I had the opportunity to volunteer at FoodTank's Policy conference. I enjoyed helping attendees properly dispose of their waste, and the opportunity to listen to an array of voices in the food justice movement. I was greatly encouraged by many of the speaker's emphasis on combating food waste and improving access to land for young farmers as bipartisan goals within agricultural policy. " - Emily, Data & Program Support VISTA