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.
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!
Lorraine Wochna and Keith Pawlowski have joined the Athens Food Rescue team to help deliver food to area residents who may not get enough to eat.
As new volunteers, Wochna and Pawlowski transport donated food to pantries and kitchens which serve it up or hand it out at 15 locations in Athens County.
“Lorraine and Keith have stepped up at a good time,” said AFR Executive Director Teresa Curtiss. “Their work is much needed, because our partner food agencies have more and more folks coming in for meals and groceries.”
Wochna (pictured left) lives in Athens and is a retired librarian.
“Everyone should be able to eat,” she said. “It is a basic need that I can help with. I also stopped working recently and have more time to give.”
Wochna has two shifts. She picks up and delivers on Thursdays and Fridays.
Pawlowski also lives in Athens and is a graduate of Ohio University. He works at Good Works.
“I believe it is important to engage with the community and spend time supporting initiatives we care about,” he said. “I appreciate the opportunity to work with other people who share this passion for fighting food waste and to learn from those who have experience working in the food recovery space.”
Pawlowski is an Athens Food Rescue sub. He fills in for other volunteers when needed.
In this, our 10th anniversary year, AFR has collected 34,500 pounds of food so far. The total is 372,700 since starting in 2015.
These contributions come from 17 generous donors. If it were not for Athens Food Rescue, the food would be tossed out and end up in a landfill.
More information is available at AFR’s website – www.athensfoodrescue.com.
Anyone who’d like to donate can send a check to Athens Food Rescue, P.O. Box 1143, Athens, Ohio 45701. Donations can also be channeled to Athens Food Rescue Fund through Foundation for Appalachian Ohio – https://appalachianohio.org/
Why participate in food rescue?
Help the Community
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1 in 6 American households are food insecure
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Contributing to Athens Food Rescue helps feed hungry people in Athens with food that would otherwise go to waste
Improve Your Bottom Line
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Reduce waste hauling fees
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Cut costs by developing new waste reduction strategies
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You may be eligible for an enhanced tax deduction
Bolster Sustainability
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Food recovery helps reduce food waste, America’s largest waste stream
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Organic waste emits methane, which is 21 times more harmful than carbon dioxide*
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Source reduction and donating food to feed people are the best ways to reduce food waste
Liability Protection
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The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act protects all good faith food donors from liability
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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.