Food Recovery Network facts for kids
Food Recovery Network (FRN) is a group started by students to fight food waste and help feed people. It began in 2010 with four students: Evan Ponchick, Ben Simon, Mia Zavalij, and Cam Pascual. They were studying at the University of Maryland, College Park. These students noticed how much good food from their dining halls was thrown away every night. By the end of that school year, they had saved 30,000 meals. These meals went to different groups in the Washington, D.C. area.
What is the Food Recovery Network?
The Food Recovery Network (FRN) is a student-led movement. Its main goal is to stop good food from being wasted. It also aims to get this food to people who need it. FRN works with college campuses across the United States. Students collect leftover food that is still safe to eat. Then, they give it to local charities and food banks. This helps both the environment and people in need.
How Does FRN Work?
FRN's work is based on a special law called the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. This law was passed in 1996. It helps protect people and groups who donate food in good faith. This means they are safe from lawsuits if something goes wrong, as long as they were not careless. This law makes it easier for places like college dining halls to donate food without worry.
FRN's founder, Cam Pascual, explained that FRN solves three big problems at once:
- Problem 1: A lot of good food from colleges goes to waste. About 22 million pounds of edible food from college campuses are thrown away each year. This food ends up in landfills.
- Problem 2: Many people in the U.S. do not have enough to eat. About one out of every six Americans is not sure where their next meal will come from.
- Problem 3: College students often want to help their communities. They are looking for ways to do good deeds and volunteer.
FRN brings these three problems together to create a solution. Students get to help their community. Food that would be wasted feeds hungry people. And less food goes into landfills.
FRN's Impact and Growth
Since it started, FRN has grown a lot. It now has 198 student groups, called chapters. These chapters are in 44 different states. Together, these groups have saved a huge amount of food. They have recovered over 1.6 million pounds of food. This food has gone to many people who needed it. FRN shows how students can make a big difference in their communities.
