Akhila's Reason For Starting a FRN Chapter at Pace University

Akhila is the chapter leader at Pace University, a new chapter that joined FRN during Fall 2020. She started this chapter because of her work with the United Nations Millennium Fellowship and will also be establishing a composting program at her school!

Melody, Food Recovery Network National Staff (FRN): What is most fulfilling about your work with FRN. Why?

Akhila: I am very excited to be a part of a growing movement of people dedicated to helping those in need and are malnourished or food insecure. It is a fantastic initiative involving the youth of our country that I understand started back in {2011} at the University of Maryland, College Park. It is especially important to give back to those in need during these challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic… Food waste is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, and often food distribution is unequal across various economic divisions. For all these reasons, I am proud… to start recovering food!

FRN: What is your favorite part of being a member of your FRN chapter? 

Akhila: I enjoy meeting new people. I also enjoy giving back to those affected by COVID-19 during this time, as it disproportionately affects certain populations and leaves them vulnerable. 

FRN: If you are a chapter founder, why did you want to start a chapter in your community?

Akhila: I feel that Westchester County, which is located right above New York City, is diverse and has a large subsect of people in need of fresh food. Some populations are wealthier and can, fortunately, enjoy these various comforts, however, nutritious food should be available for everyone. Everyone deserves a hot meal at the table every night.

WHAT GOES INTO STARTING A CHAPTER?

FRN: During the pandemic, how has this experience been valuable to you?

Akhila: I feel as I have stated before, is more important than ever to give back. Many have lost jobs due to COVID-19, and {many} over 60 are most vulnerable to becoming severely ill. It is very important that everyone can access quality food during this time, as maintaining a healthy lifestyle is most important, for both physical and mental well-being. It is also one less thing for people to worry about during this already challenging time. 

FRN: What does a just and equitable food system look like to you?

Akhila: A just and equitable food system is one where the lack of money does not inhibit anyone from accessing clean and nutritious food. It makes sure that everyone in the population can be fed three meals a day where they can function and be in their optimal health. 

FRN: What advice would you give to new members – especially during a pandemic? What was something you wish someone had told you before you took on your role?

Akhila: It is important not to stress too much about meeting benchmarks... things would come together easier if {you} were meeting in person. It is important to give yourself a break, and not put too much on your plate...The FRN National HQ can certainly help you navigate the process. 

FRN: What is your Instagram handle?

Akhila: My Instagram handle is @keeksthehun, and I have also recently started a non-profit initiative called “Food for Thought”, which username is @7billionfoodies.

Oxford College of Emory University Chapter President, Bridgette Garnache, Tells Us Her "Why?"

Bridgette Garnache is President of FRN at Oxford College of Emory University. Her chapter was able to recover food last semester despite challenges introduced by the pandemic, and plans to recover in Spring 2021 as well. 

Melody, Food Recovery Network: What is most fulfilling about your work with FRN? Why?

Bridgette: The most filling part of my work with FRN is hearing feedback about the ways in which our chapter has impacted others, whether it be community members who received food that we had recovered or students who have become passionate about food justice issues after volunteering with us. We ultimately seek to serve others in the community, so this makes me incredibly proud! 

FRN: What is your favorite part of being a member of your FRN chapter? 

Bridgette: I have really enjoyed getting to connect with people that I would likely not have had the opportunity to connect with otherwise. For example, I've gotten to know our campus chef and dining hall staff, the leadership team at the food pantry we partner with, and fellow students that are interested in food-related service. 

WHAT GOES INTO STARTING A CHAPTER?

FRN: During the pandemic, how has this experience been valuable to you?

Bridgette: With the constraints of worldwide lockdowns and remote learning, the pandemic has pushed me to create new ways to work towards addressing the food-related inequalities that have continued to increase in prevalence. As a way to connect students virtually and raise awareness about food justice, I created an introductory research program for students at my school. Throughout the semester myself and our FRN leadership team taught participants research methods and mentored them through the creation of research projects on a food-related topic of their choice. This past January, our chapter hosted a food justice symposium to display their work and it was a resounding success in terms of its ability to reach others and raise awareness! 

FRN: What does a just and equitable food system look like to you?

Bridgette: One where all people have access to and control over food that is culturally relevant, desirable, nutritious, and affordable. 

FRN: What advice would you give to new members – especially during a pandemic? What was something you wish someone had told you before you took on your role?

Bridgette: I’m the President of our chapter and something I wish I knew was to take initiative when possible and don’t let remote learning prevent you from working towards FRN’s mission—there are so many ways to be involved in improving our food system! Look for ways to leverage your own skills and resources to continue to work towards promoting food justice. Don’t let setbacks stop you and don’t lose focus on the “Why” of your work. 

FRN: What is your Instagram handle?

Bridgette: @Oxford_CollegeFRN

Impact is More than a Number

How do you define impact? When I think about this question, my mind automatically leaps to metrics. At FRN, we collect a lot of data to understand the results of our work, much of which can be communicated through numbers. While we can share really interesting information, like how many pounds of food our students recover per semester, we still have to ask ourselves, what do these numbers really mean? What do numbers really tell us about the actual impact of the work produced, the message shared, or the service provided? 

I grappled with these questions last fall as Food Recovery Network (FRN) volunteers supported the work of The Farmlink Project. Dozens of our students and alumni researched and made phone calls to connect with farmers that might have surplus food to donate. Sometimes their efforts led to food recovery and donation, which we can quantify by looking at how many volunteers participated, how many hours of service they provided, and how many pounds of food were moved as a result:

• 55 volunteers

• 319 hours

• 638,000 pounds of food

“FarmLink is an incredible solution to combating both food waste and food insecurity. As a member of the FRN eboard and as a farmworker— I’ve seen how much good food gets wasted on the farm and how much prepared food gets thrown out that could have otherwise been recovered. I love being part of a team that works together to circulate fresh produce and food items to people with less access in such a creative and innovative way.”

— Theresa Ferrigno, student at SUNY/ESF

However, there were many more instances in which volunteer research and calls didn’t lead anywhere. In speaking with FRN volunteers about their experience, though, it became clear to me that the full impact of this program can’t be reduced to metrics. There simply isn’t a way to measure:

• The passion FRN volunteers brought to this work

• The way they inspired their FRNds to volunteer

• The skills, leadership and knowledge they gained

• The strength of the relationships built with farmers, and 

• The value of fresh produce, when it could be donated, to food insecure communities

“Volunteering remotely with Farmlink has given me the chance to maintain activism towards food insecurity during a time when solutions are needed more than ever. I am very grateful for this experience and I look forward to more power hours in the near future.”

— Billie Porter, student at University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Sometimes, the largest impact isn’t quantified in numbers. Instead, it is felt in the hearts of those who do the work and those who receive the support they need, demonstrated through our commitments and the simple act of showing up, and inspired through our passion and leadership. I am so grateful for all those who volunteered with us in 2020; you power our movement to combat hunger and food waste and your impact extends far beyond numbers. 

Interested in volunteering with FRN and Farmlink this spring?

Reflecting on 2020: Student Network Wins in Light of COVID-19

By Regina Anderson, Executive Director

The poet laureate Audre Lorde said, “The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference.” 

Lorde’s sentiment reminds me of all of our students throughout the country in their pursuit to build a better food system for all. FRN students believe deeply that food is a right and they make sure that people have access to the food they deserve through valuable relationships. 

This month we wanted to take a moment to celebrate our student network! Students, you have all accomplished some astounding things and I am not surprised at all. 

• We have found new places to recover food outside of our college campuses, more than 120 of us worked closely [virtually] with The FarmLink Project (600,000 pounds of food recovered and counting!)

• We’re engaged in our continuous learning with the Food Justice Learning Series, a sequence of webinars that brings a panel of experts together to discuss issues that intersect food waste and food insecurity in our country through the lens of life in a pandemic.

• Additionally, in collaboration with the #FUELHigherEd campaign, FRN is working alongside a network of advocacy organizations to end food insecurity in America and to create long-lasting solutions to hunger on college campuses. We hope you can interact with this campaign throughout the spring.  

And we’re just getting warmed up. 2021 will be here before we know it and all of us at FRN National cannot wait to keep making strides to ensure we can distribute all of the surplus food our country produces to feed everyone who is hungry. 

Thank you to all of our student-leaders, volunteers, staff advisors, dining hall workers, food donors, and partner agencies. We appreciate your hard work this year, and we can’t wait to continue this amazing work in the new year!

Honoring Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week

Now through November 22, 2020, FRN will honor Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, an annual program sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness to help educate people across the country about these issues and advocate for change.

At FRN, we firmly believe that no one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from or where they’ll sleep that night. Unfortunately, millions of people in the United States struggle with hunger and homelessness. Right now, an estimated 54 million people are experiencing food insecurity and nearly 550,000 people experience homelessness on a given night. 

While there are many misconceptions about who is impacted by hunger and homelessness, these issues aren’t exclusive to any single community or group and rarely does a single cause contribute to the loss of housing or inability to purchase food. Check out some of the common myths surrounding homelessness and hunger in the US. 

As we reflect on the prevalence of homelessness and hunger in America, one of the most startling revelations is the rate at which food and housing insecurity for college and university students is rising. According to a study conducted by Hunger on Campus: 

• 50% of community college students and 47% of four-year college students reported experiencing food insecurity in the previous 30 days

• Food insecurity rates are higher for students of color: 57% of Black or African American students reported food insecurity, compared to 40% of non-Hispanic white students

• 64% of food insecure students reported experiencing housing insecurity in the past 12 months 

• 15% of food insecure students reported experiencing homelessness in the past 12 months

So what action is being taken to rectify this? Many colleges and universities across the country have opened food pantries on campus to help reduce student hunger. Additional solutions include the creation of on-campus community gardens and food recovery programs.

Policymakers can also play a significant role by increasing student access to existing federal programs like SNAP and simplifying the FAFSA process. 

At FRN, we’re taking action in our own way. In partnership with the #FUELHigherEd Campaign, we’re leading a cohort of six FRN Student Chapters to engage in advocacy work at the local, state and federal level to help raise awareness about student hunger and promote change. Through these efforts, we hope to generate stronger policies that will lead to reduced food insecurity and hunger for students. To stay updated on our work, sign up for FRN emails and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.