FFOOOODD Recovery Network NLA
surplus edible food from ending up in the dumpster or landfill and redistributing it to those who are in need. FRN chapters must complete food safety training, identify community partners and find food donor sources. After securing the partnership with Fresh Ideas, MVC’s food service provider, in the fall of 2019, the FRN had their first official recovery of the semester on October 30, 2019 and were able to recover 70.5 pounds of food during that one recovery. They continued recoveries until December 12, 2019, recovering a total of 622.49 pounds by the end of the semester. Food recovered from the campus dining hall is distributed to the HOOT Resource Program and the Lighthouse Shelter, which are both located in Marshall. The NLA is currently partnering with Missouri Valley Community Action Agency (MVCAA) to secure a physical location that will serve as a distribution site for the community. MVCAA will pilot this program with the NLA providing $10,000 of Community Service Block Grant funding for the next three years. Northwest Community Services is working with MVC NLA to help staff operations. According to Gold, they have created a volunteer program for their employees and the Food Recovery Network at MVC has been fortunate to reap the benefits of that.
Addressing food insecurity within Marshall had been an ongoing conversation within the MVC Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA). Jamie Gold, assistant professor of non-profit leadership, conducted research regarding the Good Samaritan Act and programs that the group could work with to address hunger within the community. A community needs assessment was conducted finding 19% percent of our neighbors under the age of 18 face the harsh reality that their food will run out before being able to buy more. That often means eating less - balanced meals, cutting back on the size of meals or outright skipping them because there isn’t enough money for food. The MVC Food Recovery Network (FRN) applied for recognition during the spring 2019 semester. The Food Recovery Network is a student-driven movement and there are currently over 230 chapters on college campuses across the country. Food recovery is the practice of preventing
"One of the great things about our food recovery program is that it is open to everyone and anyone,” Gold said. “The FRN does not have qualifying criteria to obtain food. We think this will increase access to food for families that might not qualify for other food distribution programs. Our goal is to address food insecurity in a way that is user friendly and to reduce barriers that exist for some of our families. This program is another piece in the food insecurity puzzle."
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