FRN Update: Community Colleges Driving New Changes for Food Recovery Network

Community Colleges Driving New Changes for Food Recovery Network

New Grant Supports Installation of 5 New FRN Chapters at Community Colleges nationwide

As Food Recovery Network (FRN) continues to focus on recovering delicious food to feed everyone experiencing hunger in the US—we are proud to announce the expansion of FRN’s presence in community colleges. FRN’s Community College Recovery Grants have been awarded to five stand-out Community Colleges across the nation:

  • Central Lakes College (Brainerd, MN)

  • Green River College (Auburn, WA)

  • Montgomery County Community College (Blue Bell, PA)

  • San Diego College of Continuing Education (San Diego, CA)

  • State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education and Community College of Aurora (Aurora, CO)

Community College Recovery Grants provide the technical and financial assistance to design and implement food recovery programs to ensure these local communities can address their specific needs.

“Our data analysis revealed that it is more often two-year community colleges, rather than four-year universities, that exist in communities with greater food access and food waste disparities across the U.S. These five new chapters will lead the way as FRN continues to implement our data-driven strategic framework that aims to feed more people, faster,” says Regina Harmon Executive Director, FRN.

For almost 15 years, FRN has been utilizing community power to reduce food waste through our network of nearly 200 college and university student-led chapters, along with business and community partnerships. FRN's data-driven strategic framework, FRN10X, helped recover more food in one year than in the previous 10 years combined and distribute 329% more meals than in 2019. Just last year alone, our network contributed 27,690 volunteer hours, the equivalent dollar value of $905,892.00 (Independent Sector), to enrich communities across the U.S.

Media inquiries contact Sarah Corbin, Director of Communications. sarah.corbin@foodrecoverynetwork.org.

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Regina Harmon, Executive Director of Food Recovery Network since 2015, has been a pivotal voice in raising awareness and harnessing action to reduce food waste, end hunger, and positively impact the environment. Regina has been invited to share her insights with media outlets such as CNN and Al-Jazeera and featured in publications such as SELF. In addition to her role at Food Recovery Network, Regina serves on the board of directors for Food Tank and Earth Island Institute and is a valued member of ReFED’s Advisory Council.

Food Recovery Network (FRN) is a national nonprofit that mobilizes 6,000 college students, food providers, and local businesses in the fight against climate change and hunger by recovering perishable food across the supply chain that would otherwise go to waste and donating it to organizations that feed people experiencing hunger. As one of the largest student-driven movements against food waste and hunger, FRN’s programs are on nearly 200 college campuses and 100 food businesses in 46 states and D.C., and they have recovered more than 16.5 million pounds of food to date – the equivalent of 13.8 million meals donated to feed individuals experiencing hunger and 9,300 metric tons of CO2 emissions prevented from entering our atmosphere.