By: Kendall Keylor
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Razorback Food Recovery is a student-led Volunteer Action Center Signature Program that works to recover unused food and redistribute it to those in need within the Northwest Arkansas community.
Since the program started in 2014, they have recovered over 190,000 pounds of food, which provided around 108,300 meals to individuals and families.
So far, in 2019, RFR has recovered 22,643 pounds of food, and this provided around 20,000 meals to those in need.
“Our food directly impacts the homeless population, the food insecurity population, and people that really need this food,” said Coleman Warren, Partner Coordinator of Razorback Food Recovery.
The student volunteers are trained how to recover, package, and transport unused food items to local partners.
RFR partners with Chartwells Dining Services that allows volunteers to recover and package the unused items from campus retail stores and dining halls across the University of Arkansas campus.
There’s something special about the program that stands out to Warren the most.
“Culture of the organization shows that we’re really just trying to maximize positive impact of people’s lives,” Warren said. “That’s really special because having an organization that everyone cares so much about helping people and serving others. You don’t get that everywhere.”
Students who wish to get involved with the organization can fill out an easy volunteer application on the Volunteer Action Center’s website. They can serve on a weekly basis that involve shifts between an hour and an hour and a half.
After beginning as a volunteer at RFR last year, and progressing to be the Partner Coordinator, Coleman believes the program is extremely effective because everyone who is a part of it cares so much about the impact they are making.