Fighting campus hunger through food recovery
Fighting campus hunger through food recovery
Ohio State's Food Recovery Network collects unused food to distribute to local partners
When Kevin Jesus Cazarez Lopez first stepped onto Ohio State’s campus, he knew he wanted to make a difference. Coming from a low-income urban community in New Jersey, Kevin — an Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability major in the School of Environment and Natural Resources — understood the realities of food insecurity but hadn’t fully realized the scope of the issue, especially among college students. “It’s something many people experience without recognizing it,” Kevin shares, reflecting on how food insecurity can often go unnoticed. Inspired by his passion for food security, he quickly connected with Ohio State’s Food Recovery Network (FRN), a group committed to tackling food waste and hunger on campus.
A Community Effort to Reduce Food Waste
The Food Recovery Network at Ohio State operates with a simple yet powerful mission: to reduce food waste and support those facing food insecurity. The team, made up of passionate student volunteers from across Ohio State, conducts daily recovery shifts. With the help of an electric vehicle funded by a grant, pairs of volunteers collect unused, pre-packaged meals and ingredients from campus dining locations and cafes, ensuring these meals don’t go to waste. Kevin recalls, “on some days, we recover up to 200 pounds of food in a single morning, whether it's extra ingredients ordered in bulk or fully prepared meals."
Much of the recovered food is donated to local partners such as Star House, a center that serves homeless and low-income youth in Columbus, and local church food pantries. “We focus on making an impact not just within the university, but for the broader community around us. It’s eye-opening to realize how many people outside of campus are also struggling, and we can bridge that gap.”
Making a Tangible Impact
The FRN’s impact on students and the campus community is profound. Kevin describes how new volunteers often join the organization with the sole goal of fulfilling volunteer hours, but soon become passionate advocates for reducing food waste. “Once they see how much food would have gone to waste, it opens their eyes,” he explains. Last year alone, the group recovered over 10,000 pounds of food — a staggering number, considering they only collect from campus cafes.
However, challenges remain. “We’re always having conversations with our dining halls to expand our efforts,” Kevin notes. “Most of our campuses dining halls have their own systems for managing food waste, but we want to help in any way we can.” Despite these hurdles, Kevin and the FRN continue to grow, educating students and working to expand their recovery efforts.
Get Involved
All students are invited to get involved with the Food Recovery Network. The organization is always open to new volunteers, and their work spans across various disciplines. You can follow them on Instagram at @osufoodrecovery or fill out their interest form to get involved.
For those struggling with food insecurity, Kevin’s message is clear: “The first step is admitting that you need additional support. Ohio State is a community-oriented campus, and there are resources available to help you, like the Buckeye Food Alliance.” Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or looking to support others, the knowledge and resources are available — no one should have to face hunger alone.
As Hunger Action Month winds down, stories like Kevin’s serve as an important reminder of the power of community, awareness, and action needed to fight food insecurity.
