This Valentine's Day, we wanted to share some of the many reasons why we love FRN. We'd love to hear why you love FRN -- you can let us know on Facebook or Twitter. We hope you like the vintage Valentines!
HC
"My love for FRN grows day by day. As we slowly but surely save hundreds and hundreds of pounds. As our students grow into leaders and does and changers. As the hungry in communities across the country find food for their empty bellies. Each day, it grows more and more."
Karen
"I love FRN because...the organizational model is so innovative yet so simple. We use existing, abundant resources -- namely surplus food and eager student leaders -- to address multiple social issues: the environmental consequences of food waste, the prevalence of hunger across America, and the need for meaningful student leadership and service-learning opportunities. I'm proud to work for an organization that presents such a logical, replicable, and scalable solution to complex, intersecting social issues."
Hannah
"I love FRN for a lot of reasons and I could talk for days about them, but I think the most important one is this: FRN exists because a small group of leaders recognized a problem (or in this case, two), took responsibility for their role in the problems, and worked really, really hard to develop a solution. Grace Lee Boggs wisely said 'You cannot change any society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it.' She was right, and I think often times we fall short of positive change because we push off our responsibility to someone or something else. But FRN is an exception to that norm -- we've stepped up and taken responsibility, and nearly one million meals have been saved and provided to our neighbors in need because of it. We're changing the game because we saw a problem and decided to fix it."
Jamie
"I love FRN because FRN is so easy to love! What could be better than taking two major problems (food waste and hunger) and using one to solve the other? NOTHING! I also love working with our incredible student leaders who inspire me to be a better person every day. I have talked to students who work two jobs, are in athletic programs, double major, and graduate early, just to name a few, and still find time to save the world one recovery at a time by starting their own FRN chapter. You guys are the absolute bomb."
Cassidy
"I love FRN because this organization motivates college students to be thoughtful activists. We mobilize students to fight food waste and hunger in their communities, and we also provide them with tools to stay informed about these issues and think critically about the way they interact with diverse groups of people. College is one of the best times to plant the seeds for this kind of engagement, and I hope we see our alumni carry what they learn from their involvement with FRN into the rest of their lives. I think we will."
Leyla
"I love FRN because it empowers students to become leaders in the realm of food waste and recovery. We have the opportunity to influence the next generation of changemakers, and that's a powerful feeling."
MIKA
"I love the culture of FRN as an organization. We care a lot about treating ourselves and others well, and we have an incredibly competent team that works well together. I see this in our chapters as well; I'm constantly impressed by the new initiatives and ideas that they carry through to fruition. As a movement, we're always thinking of creative new ways to make an impact and share it."
Mia
"I love FRN because it provides a space for students to become leaders and create amazing, high impact food recovery programs. Everyday that I work with FRN, I see and hear about empowerment. I hear about people in communities across America that are empowered when they receive fulfilling and wholesome meals from FRN. Partner agencies share stories of their own empowerment because they save time and money when working with FRN chapters. Students are empowered to take ownership of the well being of their campuses and communities. And dining service providers and food businesses are empowered to do the right thing, and donate their surplus food. I know that empowerment well, because that is the same empowerment I have felt in working with FRN."