Volunteer

Volunteering for a “shift” is easy and fun to do. Typically “shifts” only take less than an hour and you get to meet some of the most generous and grateful people.

Don’t have a car or want to help in a different way? E-mail us and we will apply your skills in other ways to help feed those in need in our community.

JOIN US

Our Funders

We have been able to continue our work thanks in part to grants from these foundations. We could not help feed those in need without support from the community!

“We can’t thank you enough for this tremendous donation of food,” said Monna Taylor of the Bishopville Food Pantry, which received nearly 4400 pounds of milk and food through the efforts of Athens Food Rescue.
AFR picked up and delivered another 4400 pounds of food recently from an anonymous donor and several Ohio University fraternities and sororities.
All this means that approximately 8800 pounds of food was not dumped into a landfill and many hungry Athens residents were fed by food pantries and meal programs. Fruits, vegetables and prepared foods were among the many different donated items.
However, the large amount of food and milk was not expected to last long at Bishopville.
“We have no question that all the foods will be distributed at our (next two) pantries,” explained Taylor.  “We expect approximately 95-plus families, and they will be very happy with the selection that they will be given.”
The Athens Food Rescue deliveries were made by seven of the group’s volunteers.  The food went to nine locations, including The Gathering Place and United Campus Ministry in Athens and the Feed My Sheep Food Pantry in Torch.
“I’m so impressed by everyone,” said Nanda Filkin, AFR’s executive director.  “So much hard work and dedication. The pantries and recipients were so thankful.”
She also expressed appreciation to the anonymous donor.
AFR is a not-for-profit group which fights hunger by reducing food waste. It gets help from several partners with surplus food.
More information about AFR’s efforts is available at https://www.athensfoodrescue.com.  You can sign up to volunteer there and make a donation of money.
Contributing can also be done on AFR’s Facebook page and by sending a check to Athens Food Rescue, PO Box 1143, Athens, Ohio, 45701.
Volunteer with AFR

Why participate in food rescue?

Help the Community

  • 1 in 6 American households are food insecure

  • Contributing to Athens Food Rescue helps feed hungry people in Athens with food that would otherwise go to waste

Improve Your Bottom Line

  • Reduce waste hauling fees

  • Cut costs by developing new waste reduction strategies

  • You may be eligible for an enhanced tax deduction

Bolster Sustainability

  • Food recovery helps reduce food waste, America’s largest waste stream

  • Organic waste emits methane, which is 21 times more harmful than carbon dioxide*

  • Source reduction and donating food to feed people are the best ways to reduce food waste

Liability Protection

  • The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act protects all good faith food donors from liability

  • Thousands of businesses, universities, and even the federal government donate surplus food regularly

Learn more about food waste management with these resources:

If you would like to donate to Athens Food Rescue, you can send us a check to:

Athens Food Rescue, P.O. Box 1143, Athens, Ohio  45701

You can also donate to Athens Food Rescue by giving directly to The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio in our name. Gifts to the Athens Food Rescue Fund are tax deductible and can be made in many ways, including cash, bequests, and life insurance.  You can find more about how to do this here.