From Regina's Desk: Keep the Message Alive and Moving

Executive Director Regina Northouse during the 2016 National Food Recovery Dialogue.

“If you want to be part of a community, get involved with what the community is doing.” Those were the words of Josh Singer, Garden Specialist for the District of Columbia's Department of Parks and Recreation, during one of the many incredible National Food Recovery Dialogue breakout sessions, as he went through his top 15 ways to successfully plan urban gardens in gentrifying neighborhoods. Josh’s words overlay the entire Dialogue, and why we were all there. Even if you were not at the Dialogue in person, these words hold for why we are a part of FRN: We wanted to learn and share ways to deepen our connection to the FRN community and to the communities we inhabit across the country.

We want to do things differently, and we want to do things better. To some, that might sound lofty, but to us, it is a commitment to our present as much as it is a vision for our future. Recovering more than 1 million meals to date happened because we care, because we won’t stop, and because we involve our whole community in doing.things.better.

Remember the two calls to action I stated at the NFRD? We’re going to continue to lean on all of you to get THERE. Even after you graduate, we’ll still need your support!

1. By the time the first years in our network graduate (roughly 4 or 5 years from now), let’s see if we’ve moved the needle for making higher education the first sector in our country where food recovery the normal practice.

2. Let’s make the Food Recovery Certified program a national standard. We started FRC because of feedback from all of you -- that while we support our dining halls in recovering surplus food, restaurants and events should be doing the same. Let’s make it easy for the business sector to do the right thing.

And what else? I heard the FRN Fellows state a common rejoinder throughout the Dialogue in breakout sessions, during lunch, and between panels when we heard a good idea from you: “That is an awesome idea! Connect with me so you can write about it in our blog.” Or, “I love that idea; let’s make sure the full network hears about that!” The National Food Recovery Dialogue represented, in a moment in time, the commitment, passion, and drive we have to reduce waste and feed people. As I said, these BIG issues we’re tackling don’t stop. To keep that momentum going -- that fight -- between now and our next national gathering, it’s critical that we keep in touch, raise our voices, and support one another in working smarter and more ingeniously to combat these complex social issues.

I know this is the group to make the difference.

Reflecting on the NFRD (We're Impressed)

NFRD 2016 attendees bring it together for a group photo on April 3 at the University of Maryland, College Park. 

The National Food Recovery Dialogue is over, and all of us at FRN National have had a bit of time to wipe away our happy tears, get some rest, and delve into our leftover Hampton Creek vegan cookie dough and Hungry Harvest fruit. We’ve also had time to reflect on the unforgettable three days we spent with more than 400 students, food activists, community leaders, and industry professionals. 

Our initial feeling is simple: we’re impressed. We’re impressed by how intelligent, accomplished, kind, and engaged FRN students are. While we knew this already, having 400 FRNds sitting in a room asking insightful questions, sharing best practices, and encouraging each other to make change was a powerful experience. Our This Recovered Life speakers blew us away, and we know that each FRN student has a story that is similarly powerful.

The NFRD was also a reminder that our efforts in food recovery fit into a broader fabric of complex social justice and environmental issues. Many of our speakers and presenters shared personal experiences of racial injustice, hunger, homelessness, and poverty. Dreaming Out Loud founder Christopher Bradshaw ended his moving presentation by challenging us to ask difficult questions and have uncomfortable conversations about the problems with our world, and to do it with love, respect, and care. We hope that you’ll accept this challenge -- we know our team will strive to do the same. 

The NFRD left us with the distinct feeling that the time to change the food waste norm is now. There is momentum and willpower from so many organizations, policymakers and individuals. We have stronger research that is yielding more data than ever about the environmental impacts of food waste and the ways we can combat it. Policymakers are beginning to take note of the issue as well, which made it possible for FRN students to advocate for food recovery legislation during our first ever Lobby Day. Stories like Jen Rustemeyer’s, one of the filmmakers behind the documentary “Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story”, remind us of the scale of the issue while also reaffirming the power of individuals to make change in their everyday lives. 

Looking forward, we know that our student leaders will continue to be change-makers in their communities. FRN students are bright and motivated. They understand the complexity of the issues and have strong principles; at the end of the day, they prioritize action and promote feasible solutions. This spring, many of our chapters will build upon the amazing work they already do by organizing Feeding our FRNds events across the country, hosting meals curated from recovered food that will bring communities together. 

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Below are some thought from our team about the NFRD:

Mia Zavalij

It was incredible to be surrounded by hundreds of people with so many varying life experiences, all connected because of food recovery. We had our student leaders fighting food waste on the ground, representatives of dining service providers, formerly homeless individuals, hunger-fighting community leaders, chefs, USDA and EPA Reps, and the Mayor of College Park (and more) all in one room -- that felt really powerful!

Hannah Cather

It's almost unreal to realize that more than 400 who care about fighting waste and feeding people were able to come together for one weekend. I get chills when imagining what that means for the future and the way that FRN student leaders initiate change. We got to spend quality time listening and learning and sharing ideas with people from all across the country. Our stories may look a bit different, but ultimately we're all telling the same tale: solve America's food waste and hunger problems. 

Jamie Brocker

I was blown away by our students all weekend long. They were poised, knowledgeable, and showed an overwhelming commitment to take ideas from the conference back to their campuses. I was especially moved by our Lobby Day students who spoke passionately about food waste and hunger and seriously impressed the staffers!

Want to learn more about what happened at the 2016 NFRD? Check out our Events page and recent press release for more information about the conference. 

Don't Forget! An NFRD Packing List

FRN student leaders, this one's for you.

Across the country, you all are gearing up for the best weekend of 2016, maybe of your entire college careers. You're getting ready to trek many, many miles to College Park, Maryland -- University of Hawaii, we're looking at you -- for the inaugural National Food Recovery Dialogue, which has a schedule you won't believe. We know you have a lot on your plates, so we compiled this list of must-not-leave-behind items to make sure you're 100 percent prepared for this weekend. If we forgot anything, let us know. 

1. REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE

The schedule for this weekend is packed! You'll need to be hydrated so your brain can absorb all the information being thrown your way. 

2. PHONE CHARGER

You'll need your phone charged all weekend! How else will you use the FRN app to check the schedule or find your way to your breakout session or take notes or connect with FRNds or follow #NFRD2016 or listen to our playlist? (You should probably download the app. Just search "Food Recovery" in the App Store.) 

3. LISA FRANK NOTEBOOK

Sure, there's a place to take notes in the app, but wouldn't it be fun to jot down ideas in an old-school Lisa Frank notebook? We think so. Don't forget a pen! Extra points if it's a gel pen.

4. $$$

You don't need hundreds of dollars, just $15 for our newest FRN T-shirt! If you missed the Instagram announcement, you can check out what the shirts look like here. 

5. DANCE MOVES

Ya never know when a dance party might break out. We diiiiiid put an official NFRD playlist on our app. 

6. STRESS RELIEVER

Reach for your Silly Putty when you're feeling overwhelmed by all the awesome things that are happening around you. After all, we are "sculpting" the answers to some pretty big problems. 

7. SOMETHING COMFY

If you're taking advantage of the free housing, be sure to bring something to sleep on. We have no idea where to acquire a pillow-blanket like this but if you find one, let us know. We could use one for the office. 

8. STRAW GLASSES

Because...why not?

We can't wait for you all to get here! If you take any pictures during your trip, be sure to tag us @FoodRecovery and use #NFRD2016 or add us on Snapchat @foodrecovery!

Welcome to Our House

A quote about FRN's founding decorated the scene at our first-ever house party.

For many, St. Patrick’s Day was March’s big event. While we celebrated with cookies and our love for all things green (both the color and the environmental sense of the word), the big event for us at Food Recovery Network was our first-ever house party.

At our open, meet-and-greet house party, we had the pleasure of hosting more than 70 Washington, D.C.-area residents for an evening of refreshments, conversation and education. The goal? To create an intentional space for building connections between people who share a dedication to social and environmental justice, while also spreading the word about FRN and how we are working to create positive change at both the community and national levels. 

Throughout the evening, we shared information about the interrelated issues of food waste and hunger -- and how Food Recovery Network is working to combat both through its student-driven mission. We communicated our vision of a nation where food recovery is the norm rather than the exception. And we connected with others who share similar visions.

Tommy Wells, the director of the Department of Energy & Environment for the District of Columbia with more than 30 years of public service, spoke about creating positive social and environmental change right here in Washington, D.C. Kelliann Blazek, a legislative assistant, also attended the event on behalf of Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), the congresswoman who introduced the nation’s first bill that would significantly reduce food waste on a national scale. They were joined by dozens more professionals whose work generates a positive impact both for today and for the future. 

Looking to the future, in this fifth year since FRN’s founding, we are so grateful for all who have supported FRN and food recovery in general so far. We saw a snapshot of this support in the passion of our house party attendees, and we are so excited to continue building on the connections and momentum this event helped us create. 

We’re always looking to create connections in our communities. Interested in hosting a house party or similar event with Food Recovery Network? Let us know by emailing Karen Mawdsley at kmawdsley@foodrecoverynetwork.org.

7 Food Documentaries You Should Watch Right Now

Are you a student leader looking for something new to inspire your team before your next recovery? New to the concept of food justice and want to learn more about the people that grow and pick our food? Just want to watch a movie where they sing songs about a truck? If you fall into any of these categories, get excited. We've complied a list of seven of the best food documentaries out there.

1. A Place at the Table

What's it about? A Place at the Table is about hunger in America and focuses mostly on families with children. It explores in-depth the impact of hunger on a child’s education, goals and long-term success. It also takes a look at the correlation between obesity and poverty and suggests some potential solutions for ending hunger and improving our food system.

Why watch it? To learn more about hunger in America. It’s a great way to motivate new food recovery volunteers as well, as it's full of moving personal stories by people who have dealt with hunger.

2. Just Eat It

What's it about? A Canadian couple decides to eat only food that would otherwise have been wasted for 6 months and are continually shocked to find that there is a huge surplus of food at the different grocery stores that they visit. Over the course of those 6 months, they spend less than $200 on groceries and save more than $20,000 of food.

Why You Should Watch It: Just Eat It is a great film if you want to learn more about dumpster diving and/or other ways to procure wasted food. It’s expertly produced and doesn’t take itself too seriously, so you can have fun while watching it, too.

3. Truck Farm

What's it about? Two friends want to grow a garden in New York City but realize that the only space they have to grow in is their truck bed. This doesn't stop them; they outfit their truck with a fancy drainage system designed for a roof and proceed to grow an abundance of vegetables and herbs in it while driving it all over the city.

Why watch it? If you’re trying to teach kids about urban farming, Truck Farm is a great option! They explore several creative ways to grow produce in a city. Check this one out if you’re in a goofy mood but still want something informative -- this movie doubles as a musical (featuring songs like “Truck Farm, It’s Like A Roof”)!

4. Food Chains

What's it about? Food Chains focuses on farmworker justice, specifically on the plight of farmworkers in Florida who are being paid a penny for each pound of tomatoes they pick. The film follows the Coalition of Immokalee Workers as they take on huge corporations like Walmart and Publix.

Why Watch It? To learn more about farmworker justice and the impact that our food system has on the people who pick our food. It’s also a great film to watch to better understand exactly where our food comes from and the systems that exist to grow, pick, and bring it to market.

5. Dive!

What's it about? A group of friends go dumpster diving for most of their meals and find that they have way more food than they need. They try to find a way to donate or reroute it but realize that the process of recovering the wasted food is more complicated than they expected.

Why Watch It? Dive! is a great movie to watch as an introduction to food waste. These filmmakers are incredibly knowledgeable about wasted food and its impact on the environment and cite strong statistics and existing legislation that viewers should consider.

6. The Starfish Throwers

What's it about? The Starfish Throwers follows three people who are making a difference by feeding the hungry: a man who goes out each night with sandwiches for those in need, a young girl who grows gardens all over the U.S. to serve free dinners, and a man in India who drives food to people on the street on a daily basis.

Why Watch It? To learn more about three individuals who are leading inspiring efforts in the fight against hunger.  The three leaders profiled are incredibly passionate about their work -- their energy and commitment is contagious! 

7. Food, Inc

What's it about? Food, Inc. is an expose on corporate agriculture that explores how large-scale industrial farming is harming people, animals and the environment. Featuring interviews with food experts Eric Schlosser, Michael Pollan, Gary Hirshberg and Joel Salatin, the film addresses everything from factory farming to food safety to GMOs. 

Why watch it? This film is a must-see for anyone who is interested in the politics behind our food. If you haven't seen it already, watch it for a strong introductory overview of the major issues facing our food system.

Excited about watching the above films? If you're attending the National Food Recovery Dialogue or in the D.C. area on Sunday, April 3, get tickets to our screening of Just Eat It. A Q&A with filmmaker Jenny Rustemeyer will follow the screening.