Washington, DC. September 12, 2025 — Food Recovery Network (FRN), a national leader in addressing food waste and hunger, proudly announces the successful launch of its second cohort of community college grant awardees. Following the impact of the first cohort, which demonstrated the vital role community colleges play in food recovery, this new group is on track to divert even more surplus food to feed people faster.

This year’s grant awardees are:

Central Lakes College Brainerd, MN (second-time awardee)
San Diego City College San Diego, CA
Community College of Aurora, Aurora, CO (second-time awardee)
Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA
Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM

Over the past few years, FRN developed a data-driven approach to identify where higher education infrastructure can best be utilized to recover surplus food and assist individuals and families facing hunger. Our analysis indicates that two-year community colleges, not four-year universities, are often located in areas with significant food access and waste disparities. To effectively recover food where it’s needed most, FRN aims to expand its network by increasing community college food recovery programs nationwide. Additionally, we will enhance our offerings to better support the unique needs of community colleges.

“Community colleges are uniquely situated to implement effective food recovery programs that resonate within their communities,” said Regina Harmon, CEO at FRN. “We're excited to support these institutions as they leverage their local connections and student engagement to build sustainable food recovery practices.”

The inaugural cohort’s results were striking, with FRN’s increased financial and technical support, 100% of cohort members recovered food, and the median pounds recovered per community college partner was 2,500, slightly more than a chapter at a four-year institution. This means the five cohort members, who recovered a total of 189,556 pounds, supplied nearly 20% of all pounds recovered by our college-based chapters.

“Receiving the Food Recovery Network grant revealed a powerful and previously underutilized approach to addressing food security within the campus community. It gave the college the idea, framework, and funding to build a food recovery program from the ground up. What began as a new concept has quickly become a core part of CCA’s efforts to increase access to free food in a sustainable and community-centered way,” says Andrea Rascón, Project Coordinator within CCA's Office of Student Advocacy.

FRN is excited to announce the inclusion of nine new community college chapters into its national network, in addition to the grant awardees. These chapters will start engaging in student-led food recovery initiatives aimed at supplying surplus food to local hunger relief organizations, on-campus food pantries, and community fridges. Each chapter's efforts will focus on raising awareness, involving students, and building partnerships with local nonprofits, ultimately working towards creating stronger and more resilient communities.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology: Kirkland, WA
Edmonds College: Lynnwood, WA
Grays Harbor College: Aberdeen, WA
San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE): San Diego, CA*
South Puget Sound Community College: Olympia, WA
Bronx Community College: Bronx, NY
Renton Technical College: Renton, WA
Bishop State Community College: Mobile, AL
Montgomery County Community College Foundation: Blue Bell, PA *

*Indicates chapters joining after initial cohort participation.

As FRN expands its reach, the organization remains committed to collaborating with strategically aligned organizations that share a dedication to minimizing food waste and promoting community well-being.

For more information about the Food Recovery Network and its initiatives, please visit foodrecoverynetwork.org.

Contact:

Sarah Abboreno Corbin, Director of Communications

sarah.corbin@foodrecoverynetwork.org

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Food Recovery Network (FRN) is the largest student-led movement reducing food waste and ending hunger in the U.S. We unite 8,000+ college students, food suppliers, farmers, and local businesses across the U.S. in the fight against climate change and hunger by recovering surplus food from across the supply chain and donating it to local nonprofit organizations that feed people experiencing hunger.