P&P October 2015

donation programs are “literally helping families sustain themselves.” The Food Recovery Network has since grown to include chapters at more than colleges and universi- ties in states and the District of Columbia. As of August , food recovered and donated has totaled more than , pounds since September . During the – academic year, chapters rescued , meals. FRN has also launched a certification program, Food Recovery Certified —with partner Sodexo—to increase the number of restaurants,

each night. After approaching FRN about setting up a donation schedule, Christian Life Center began receiving food from FRN volunteers on Mondays and Wednesdays. Christian Life Center also receives fresh produce from Taylor Farms, Coastal Sunbelt, and Coosemans Produce—through this they are able to distribute – , pounds of food throughout the community. Slye believes that organizations like FRN and others have “recognize[d] that the greatest thing in life is to solve a problem,” and that food insecurity is not a food production problem, but rather a “food distribution problem.” Slye added that food recovery and

on-campus dining halls, cafés, and sporting events that would otherwise go to waste. A typical recovery night saves to pounds a food, which amounts to about , pounds of food recovered annually. After coor- dinating with dining services (Sodexo at UMD), FRN volunteers store and deliver uneaten food to local organiza- tions like the Christian Life Center in Riverdale, Md. Though Christian Life Center had an existing food ministry, Pastor Ben Slye was approached by church members who were employed at UMD’s “ North” dining hall. Similar to students, they noted the tremendous amount of food being wasted at the end of

See Food Waste on page

Graphic courtesy of LeanPath

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October 2015 Policy&Practice