Food Fighters: A Food Recovery-Meal Delivery Program Benefits Meal Recipients, Volunteers and Agencies

ABSTRACT

Food waste and food insecurity are important issues impacting the health of the planet and its people. Food Fighters, housed at a regional university in the southeast, utilizes student volunteers to recover and repackage unused food into healthy meals and deliver them to nonprofit organizations for food insecure clients. This qualitative study used interviews to explore the impact of Food Fighters on meal participants, student volunteers, and service organizations. Findings suggest positive impacts for recipients, including enhanced medication adherence, reduced stress, and healthier eating. Volunteers noted increased empathy and social responsibility, and organizations mentioned expanded capacity, and improved client outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Food insecurity
• food waste
• nutrition program
• AIDS
• university