Move For Hunger Teams Up with Food Recovery Network to Reduce Food Waste on College Campuses

This Spring, Move For Hunger teamed up with the Food Recovery Network and Doorsteps to hold the first ever Move Out for Hunger food drive at five college campuses in the Northeast. The food drives were held in conjunction move-out day at Monmouth University, George Washington University, Southern Connecticut State University, Brandeis University, and Goucher College.

This unique event marked the first collaborative effort between two organizations who provide sustainable solutions to food waste and hunger in the United States.

Students were asked to bring any unopened, non-perishable items that they had in their dorm rooms/apartments to the Move Out For Hunger collection points on campus. Anyone who made a donation received a moving box and a t-shirt.

Check out the total pounds of food collected and how many meals each school was able to provide to their neighbors in need:

Southern Connecticut State: 3,540 lbs. of food = 2,950 meals

Monmouth University: 560 lbs. = 470 meals. 

George Washington University: 540 lbs. = 450 meals

Brandeis:  240 lbs. = 200 meals

Goucher: 175 lbs. = 150 meals

More than 5,000 lbs. of food was rescued in total -- enough to provide 4,100 meals.

Atlas Van Lines and their agents for donated boxes and volunteered their time and resources to make these events possible. Thank you to University Van Lines for moving the donations from Monmouth University to Fulfill New Jersey, and Certified Van Services for moving the donations from SCSU to their local food pantry. Also thanks to Paxton Van Lines who brought the donations to the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington D.C from George Washington University, Alexander's Mobility Services for bringing the donations to the Maryland Food Bank, and W.M. Duggan & Co. for transporting the food to The Walpole Community Food Pantry.

The food drive was started in an effort to educate college students about hunger and food waste in the country.

"History has shown us that college students tend to be at the forefront of groundbreaking movements," said Regina Anderson, Executive Director of Food Recovery Network.  “Food Recovery Network student leaders have positioned themselves as prominent voices urging our society to realign the way we think about food waste.”

Forty-percent of the food produced in the U.S is thrown out each year. Meanwhile, more than 42 million Americans face hunger each day. There's no question that Move Out For Hunger helped to raise awareness about the issue. Hopefully, it also helped to inspire a new generation hunger fighters. 

Thank you to our partners at Food Recovery Network, Doorsteps, and Atlas Van Lines making it all possible!

Let's host a food drive on your campus this fall!