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.

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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!

This is a story about generosity and caring.  A story of people and groups coming together to get food to Athens County residents who do not get enough to eat.

It starts with nine men and women with Athens Food Rescue delivering 9445 pounds of food from an anonymous donor to 11 pantries and kitchens.  The food programs are in Athens, Nelsonville, The Plains and Torch.

Pickups took place 33 times over a roughly two-week period in December. This involved boxes and crates with an assortment of cooked and unprepared food and beverages.

“It really made a difference to have volunteers who were ready to move the food at the last minute – before it was wasted,” said AFR Executive Director Nanda Filkin.  “We are so grateful that we were able to keep this much food out of the landfill and provide area pantries and food kitchens much-needed food to provide to their patrons.”

Partner groups in Athens that opened their doors for free meals include the First United Methodist Church, United Campus Ministry and The Gathering Place. Nelsonville Food Cupboard, Feed My Sheep in Torch and Heritage Community Clinic Food Pantry also have meals and food giveaways.

AFR makes deliveries year-round but was especially active in December.  The non-profit, all-volunteer organization has been transporting donations to feed hungry people and keeping surplus food out of the landfill since 2015.

Someone who wants to support this effort can send a check to Athens Food Rescue, P.O. Box 1143, Athens, Ohio 45701. There is more about donating money and food and other information at our website – www.athensfoodrescue.com.

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.