The Food Recovery Network (FRN) is a network of student groups at UMD dedicated to recovering the surplus food from the dining halls and sports games that would otherwise go to waste and donating it to homeless shelters in DC. We have donated over 30,000 meals as of May 1, 2012. Reducing food waste and providing for our neighbors makes our whole community stronger. It also helps the environment by helping to close the loop on food waste, America's second largest waste stream. After the success of the UMD chapter, FRN has launched a national movement on college campuses and already has four chapters at schools across America.
The student groups at UMD that volunteer regularly are the heart and soul of the Food Recovery Network. The organizations that make up the network are Community Roots, Apha Phi Omega, Muslim Student Association, The Love Movement, MaryPIRG, Phi Sigma Pi, CIVICUS, Terps Roots & Shoots, Hillel, Air Force ROTC, The Navigators, Rotaract Club, and The Roosevelt Institute at UMD. Our student volunteers work closely with UMD's Department of Dining Services, and we deliver the food to So Others Might Eat (SOME), the Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV), and Gospel Rescue Ministries.
We are the proud winners of seed funding from Ashoka Youth Venture, Pitch Dingman, the Do Good Challenge, and Sodexo, and we are very thankful to UMD's Department of Dining Services for their generous contribution of food pans. The Food Recovery Network is powered by people like you! FRN is always in need of new volunteers to help Monday-Friday nights weekly. Volunteering takes about an hour, and typically begins around 8:30PM. If you're interested in volunteering, donating food or money, having your student group volunteer regularly, or starting a new FRN chapter at your college or university, please email umd@foodrecoverynetwork.org.
