[RP TownTalk] University of Maryland Joins Food Recovery Network to Provide Hurricane Relief and Local Food Access

[Jessica Barnes]

NEWS​ ​RELEASE

For​ ​Immediate​ ​Release:​ September​ ​27,​ ​2017

Contact:​ Ceylon Mitchell, cmitche9 at umd.edu, 301.852.3042


University​ ​of​ ​Maryland​ ​Joins​ ​Food​ ​Recovery​ ​Network​ ​to​ ​Provide Hurricane​ ​Relief​ ​and​ ​Local​ ​Food​ ​Access

COLLEGE​ ​PARK,​ ​Md.​ - The University of Maryland Office of Community Engagement and the University of Maryland Alumni Association will partner with Food Recovery Network (FRN), Amp Your Good, and the #GiveHealthy Movement to alleviate food insecurity in Prince George’s County and provide food supplies to areas devastated by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

From Sept. 27 to Oct. 28, 2017, UMD faculty, staff and students, as well as the local community, will participate in a virtual food drive aimed at providing over 5,000 pounds of fresh produce to those in need. Modeled by the #GiveHealthy Movement, the virtual food drive is based upon technology and supply chain management, providing an alternative to traditional in-person food drives that are limited to non-perishable donations. The virtual food drive allows individuals to select food to donate from a curated list of healthy food items created by various hunger organizations. These items are purchased online and delivered directly to the hunger organizations once the drive is complete.

“The type of non-perishable food items typically collected during a traditional food drive are often highly processed, nutrient deficient food,” said CEO Pat O'Neill, of Amp Your Good, a co-founding partner of #GiveHealthy. “Offering our communities a virtual food drive ensures that those who struggle with hunger will get the healthy food they really need.”

The UMD virtual food drive will function similarly. Half of food donations will go towards Hurricane relief, benefitting Americans in the midst of disaster recovery, and the other half will benefit the Christian Life Center in Riverdale Park, Maryland. Food donated to this faith organization will be sourced from Hungry Harvest, a produce recovery company founded by Evan Lutz, a University of Maryland student. Food Recovery Network (FRN), a UMD-founded and student-driven national nonprofit fighting food waste and hunger, recommended this company.

“According to national research in Prince George’s County, where UMD resides, an estimated 129,000 individuals face food insecurity, meaning, they are not sure where their next meal is coming from, or if it will happen at all,” said Regina Northouse, FRN executive director.

“We recognize the need for communities to unite in response to health inequity and tragic disaster. This food drive provides such an opportunity,” added Gloria Aparicio Blackwell, Office of Community Engagement director.

The food drive will conclude on Oct. 28 at UMD’s homecoming game against Indiana University. From 12:30-3:30pm, Food Recovery Network will have a tabling station at Riggs Alumni Center, providing the University and City of College Park community to bring in-person donations.

Virtual food drive donations can be made by visiting go.umd.edu/Virtual-Food-Drive.

Jessica
Jessica E. Barnes
Town Clerk
Riverdale Park
5008 Queensbury Road
Riverdale Park, MD 20737
www.riverdaleparkmd.info<http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/>
301-927-6381 x505

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