OHIO donates large total of foodstuff to Athens Food stuff Rescue

A donation is loaded at the dock at OHIO’s Central Food stuff Facility.

OHIO donated about 1,600 kilos of meals to the Athens Food items Rescue (AFR) above Thanksgiving break to reward charities who feed the hungry.

AFR is an all-volunteer group that aims to increase squander meals diversion by gathering leftover food stuff and transporting it to affiliated non-gain corporations. OHIO Culinary Solutions Executive Director Frank Pazzanese stated AFR is effective to manage routinely scheduled food items pickups. Culinary Providers donates to Athens Foods Rescue, which then distributes to other groups in require, Pazzanese explained.

Each individual Culinary location has an assigned get hold of individual from AFR to established up the pickups. There are also conclude-of-semester pickups that are as well huge for AFR storage and involve the enable of other food banks to distribute the develop. Several charities during Athens County received food stuff donations.

• The Bishopville Foods Pantry acquired extra than 600 kilos from West 82 and Jefferson Marketplace.
• The Feed My Sheep Pantry gained far more than 400 lbs . from Boyd Eating Hall and Boyd Market place.
• The Nelsonville Foodstuff Cabinet obtained 95 kilos from The Entrance Space Coffeehouse.
• Mates and Neighbors Community Selection Food items Heart of Coolville been given just about 500 lbs from Nelson Eating Corridor and Nelson Industry.

“Too a lot of individuals do not get enough to take in, and we engage in at least a partial purpose in offering food to pantries and other businesses which provide those people in require,” AFR volunteer Fred Kight explained.

OHIO has been a extended-standing supporter of AFR. In early 2017, AFR approached OHIO’S Workplace of Sustainability with a request to rescue food items on campus from dining amenities and other food items venues. AFR Govt Director Teresa Curtiss and Vice President/Food stuff Protection Trainer Adele Hanson met with representatives from that workplace and Culinary Providers. The final result was a pilot application began with dining halls.

Hanson said rescuing surplus foods on campus commenced with largely breads and food items that expected no refrigeration. Most of the food was frozen for best good quality. Eating corridor managers specified surplus solutions that could be donated. The food was saved so volunteers could decide it up weekly. More eating halls, markets, and cafes have been added as time passed.

“I believe any time you can support assist men and women in will need in any group, it can make us all much better,” Pazzanese stated.

Kight explained volunteers signal up for weekly shifts and get the job done individuals shifts by going to different donor spots all over Athens County to decide up foods. The volunteers provide the foods to the companies AFR collaborates with.

“Our volunteers make it take place working day in and day out,” Kight claimed. “They give their time and energy, not to mention absorbing the expense of gasoline for all the miles that are driven.”

Any person intrigued in understanding more about AFR or volunteering can visit https://www.athensfoodrescue.com/get-associated/. All volunteers obtain instruction in food items basic safety and managing.