When we released Food Recovery Network’s strategic framework, FRN10X, we recognized that it was largely informed by a collection of stakeholder voices, experiences and perspectives. This is fitting as FRN has always been guided by those within the food-recovery movement and welcomed feedback to guide our approach and where we’re headed.

This winter, our Board of Directors hosted a series of conversations with their professional and personal networks to discuss FRN10X. During the conversations, they gave an update on the work we’ve accomplished to date, what’s ahead and how others can join the movement.

After those conversations, many of our Board Members reflected on the sense of excitement and inspiration they felt. We want to share their reflections with you.

FRN’s Vice President, Tina Gooch Gailbrath reflected on the current, very difficult circumstances in which we all live because of the pandemic. Tina noted, “I am really excited about FRN's ability to pivot during this pandemic and help those in need. This is a difficult time and food insecurity is more rampant than ever, so it's critical that we adapt our program and continue to help. I am most excited about introducing new people to FRN. Anyone who hears about FRN's work is impressed and supportive.  So it's fun to get the word out!”

Frida Endinjok, Student and Alumni Advisory Board President has dedicated her college years volunteering at FRN to raise her voice to highlight food insecurity among college students. Frida also mentors and teaches our FRN network her approach to advocacy work to give tools to more people to make a change on their college campuses to address this damaging issue of student hunger. Frida notes, “I'm always excited to share my work for it is not just based on my thoughts, but based on science. College food insecurity is real. How are college students asked to help others when they are food insecure themselves?.” Frida is a champion of equity and unapologetically requests that we look at who is affected by college student hunger, and who is able to help and notes, “Sadly, this is a problem among students of color and first-generation [college students], while other more advantaged students have time for ‘altruism.’”

Sharing our work with as many people as possible is one of the best way for us to grow our movement. When people understand our model, they immediately connect with how we do our work. As a key function of their roles, the Board helps promote our work to new networks with the aim to get others inspired to be part of the movement. Matt Kruse noted, “overall, it was exciting for me to be able to contribute to FRN's cause in a new and dynamic way. Serving on the Board is a wonderful honor and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But to take off my "governance" hat for a few minutes and play a very direct role as an advocate for and champion of this movement is a real privilege.

FRN’s Board Secretary Jennifer Schmitt hosted a conversation with people from her personal and professional network and remarked, what struck her most was “how universal the issue of hunger and food waste is. We had people listening from 9 years to 70 years old, of varying backgrounds, ethnicities, and views. It was awesome how recovering food resonated with everyone.” Jennifer went on to remark, “I was most excited about sharing my work and passion [for Food Recovery Network] with friends and family.”

Maintaining our movement, keeping the work flowing is dependent upon our core people who continually do the work. Our students are our core, volunteering their time all across the country during college final exams, during winter and spring breaks. They volunteer while wildfires are raging and flooding and hurricanes devastated our communities because they know during these tragic moments, more people need them. Incredibly, twenty-five percent of our chapters have continued to recover during the pandemic. The amount of food they have recovered is equal to how much food 25% of our chapters recovered last year, pre-pandemic! This is a testament to their abilities and proves there is still so much food to be recovered.

Claire Cummings has been on the Board of Directors for four years and previous to that sat on our Advisory Board. She understands deeply the power of our students and noted, ”I was really inspired hearing my co-Board member Bill [McConagha] talk about the opportunities for college student engagement and how volunteering with an FRN chapter is such a wonderful chance for students to do something meaningful and really see the tangible impact of their work. We are so often stuck in the world of hypotheticals and virtual connection, rarely do we get to directly have our hands involved in something that makes a difference in another person’s life and I was reminded that FRN is a great way for college students to do just that. It was really inspiring to have so many family members and people I work with learn about this organization I’ve been involved with for so many years, it felt like worlds colliding!”

Thank you to our National Board of Directors for sharing your insights with all of us, and for being part of the movement every single day. Food is a right. Together, we want to feed everyone who is hungry in this country with our beautiful, surplus food.