Mohawk Valley Community College students give back to their community each week through their chapter of Food Recovery Network.
About a year ago a group of students formed the first community college chapter of Food Recovery Network (FRN) in New York. Students collaborated with Sodexo Dining Services, along with community partners, Mother Marianne’s Westside Kitchen and the Salvation Army, developing a plan to provide meals to their neighbors in need. The students were guided by Kelly Fleming, the Program Coordinator for iServe at MVCC; Deb Hanson, the Regional Sustainability Manager for Sodexo Campus Services; and Hannah Cather the Program Manager for FRN.
Every Wednesday and Friday afternoon, three or more student volunteers can be found in the Resident Dining Hall packaging food that dining services is no longer able to use. Perfectly good food, yet not suitable for service in campus dining: leftover pizza that can be reheated for a meal, French fries that can be turned into hash browns for breakfast, and much more. The recipients pick up donations immediately after packaging and 100% of this food is used to feed people. Since the inception of FRN at MVCC, more than 2 1/2 tons of food has been donated to community partners. Student volunteers come from all walks of life and academic majors, including Shannon Crocker’s Nutrition and Dietetics students that volunteer with FRN as part of their service learning requirement.
All of these volunteers have a common goal and are meeting it together – to fight and bring an end to hunger in their community.
30 Days of Giving 2017:
- Day 1: Shopping with a Smile
- Day 2: Erie Community College Cook-Off for Kidneys
- Day 3: Stony Brook Medicine Helps in Puerto Rico
- Day 4: A Day of Service at Onondaga CC
- Day 5: New Paltz Students Make a Difference
- Day 6: Buffalo State College Dares to Care
- Day 7: Niagara County CC Students Lend A Hand for Thanksgiving
- Day 8: Old Westbury Helps Haiti
- Day 9: A Day of Service at SUNY Potsdam
- Day 10: Helping Animals at Hudson Valley Community College
- Day 11: FIT Students Help the Homeless
- Day 12: Morrisville Athletes Go Local For Service
- Day 13: SUNY Poly Gives Back Throughout the Region
- Day 14: SUNY Oswego Honors Those Battling Ovarian Cancer
- Day 15: Brockport Students Volunteer at Thanksgiving
- Day 16: SUNY ESF Sends Acorns to Action
- Day 17: Doors Open at the Columbia-Greene Community College Giving Closet
- Day 18: Monroe Community College Helps Walk for Water
- Day 19: SUNY Cortland Supports Crop Hunger Walk
- Day 20: Making Music at Farmingdale State to Help the Hungry
- Day 21: Increasing Food Security at Dutchess Community College
- Day 22: Addressing Food Insecurity On and Around SUNY Geneseo
- Day 23: Westchester Community College Plays the UnHunger Games
- Day 24: Binghamton University Builds University Assisted Community Schools
- Day 25: Mohawk Valley Community College Gives Back To Their Community
- Day 26: SUNY Oneonta Students Help Area Children Learn
- Day 27: Rockland Community College Comes Together to Aid Puerto Rico
- Day 28: Empire State College Donates to Caribbean Relief
- Day 29: Schenectady County Community College Students Provide Support to Foster Families
- Day 30: Raising Guiding Eyes at SUNY Delhi
