K-12 Food Rescue: A Food Waste Solution Podcast

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Follow the journey of students and adult leaders across the country to lead the #FoodIsNotTrash movement in their school districts as they seek food waste solutions.

John Williamson


    • May 6, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 21m AVG DURATION
    • 150 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from K-12 Food Rescue: A Food Waste Solution Podcast

    Bakersfield California School Food Waste Solution Leader Josh Rogers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 24:48


    In our 150th Episode, Josh Rogers, Director of Nutrition Services in Greenfield Union School District in California, shares how a partnership with Waste Hunger Not Food has led to over 800,000 pounds of food being rescued since 2018.

    Ohio K-12 Food Rescue & School Food Waste Solution Leader Camille Licate

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 24:04


    In this episode, Camille Licate, founder of Kids for Positive Change, shares her exciting journey from a working commercial actor in Los Angeles California to founding Kids for Positive Change in Ohio. Camille has helped establish food share tables in Ashtabula Area City Schools, and actively promotes student leadership in running the food share tables.

    Wisconsin K-12 Food Rescue Food Waste Solution Leaders Carin Keyes, Emmett Johnson, and Bryant Sorenson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 12:29


    This episode features Carin Keyes, the partnership coordinator at Manz Elementary in Eau Claire Area School District in Wisconsin, as well as Manz Elementary students Emmett Johnson and Bryant Sorenson.  All three have helped set up “no thank you”  tables and composting initiatives at Manz Elementary.

    Texas School Food Waste and K-12 Food Rescue Leader Seth Williams

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 29:10


    In this episode 147, Seth Williams, the Environmental Programs Facilitator for the Frisco IndependentSchool District in Texas, shares the journey of the Frisco ISD to reduce school food waste in their district.

    Michigan K-12 Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leaders Lexi Gross and Julie Guthrie

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 14:13


    In this episode, Lexi Gross, a senior at Otsego High School in Michigan and Julie Guthrie, the Otsego High School food service director, share their journey establishing share tablesat Otsego High School.

    Minnesota K-12 Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leader Wendy Peterson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 18:04


    In this episode, Wendy Peterson, South Washington County Schools Director of Student Nutrition in Minnesota, shares about the partnership between Washington County Schools and Basic Needs, a local not for profit feeding children and families in need in the community.   Working together, they rescue nutritious school food that is unopened and unwanted from the trays of students that they choose not to eat on a given day. The program feeds families instead of landfills!

    Fairfield CT School Food Waste Solution Leader Haley Schulman

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 18:22


    In this episode, Haley Schulman shares her  journey about learning about food waste in her time in the hotel industry, to becoming a co-site director for Fairfield Food Rescue US, where she helps manage 34 partnerships with individual schools to rescue their surplus food.

    Princeton New Jersey Student Food Waste Solution Leaders Alexandra Sandt & Sara Shahab Diaz

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 22:11


    In this episode, Princeton HS students Alexandra Sandt andSara Shahab Diaz share their journey to rescue school food waste from New Jersey landfills and compost it instead.

    New Richmond Wisconsin School K-12 Food Rescue Leader Bobbie Guyette

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 22:39


    In this episode, current supervisor of school nutrition in TheNew Richmond School District in Wisconsin, and former president of the Wisconsin School Nutrition Association, Bobbie Guyette,  shares her story of learning about food waste in Minnesota at the very beginning of her career, to implementing share tables and school food waste solutions in New Richmond.   “We want healthy kids, not healthy trashcans” is one of her favorite quotes.   To learn more about share tables in New Richmond schools, you can contact Bobbie at bguyette@newrichmond.k12.wi.us

    Princeton NJ School Food Waste Solution Leaders Meg Lembo and Shannon Barlow

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 33:57


    In Episode 140, Meg Lembo, Director of Outreach of Share My Meals in Princeton NJ, and Shannon Barlow, Food Systems Literacy Coordinator at Princeton Public Schools, share about their partnership rescuing surplus meals in PrincetonPublic Schools.  If you are interested in learning more about their partnership in New Jersey, contact Meg at meg@sharemymeals.org or Shannon at shannonbarlow@princetonk12.org

    Burbank CA K-12 Food Rescue Leaders Alex Black, Martha Walter, and Kreigh Hampel

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 53:52


    Listen to the inspiring stories of Alexander Black with Recycle Your Food in Burbank California, MarthaWalter, principal at Bret Harte Elementary, andKreigh Hampel who served the City of Burbank for 17 years as a Recycling Coordinator and has been volunteering his time at Bret Harte Elementary.Alex, Martha, and Kreigh have developed a student leadership program called “Eco Kids” that educates students on food waste solutions, as well as other sustainability practices and responsibilities.   Enjoy the podcast!

    New Jersey K-12 Food Rescue Leader Veer Agarwal

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 23:13


    In this episode, New Jersey HS junior Veer Agarwal shareshow in the summer of 2024, he started noticing how much food was wasted, and the steps he took to do something about it, founding RESQFOOD, a group of volunteersin his high school committed to finding surplus food in restaurants willing to donate, and to picking it up and delivering it to a local caring agencies.  

    Washington K-12 Food Rescue Leaders Dana Hendricks and Somer Meade

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 28:07


    In this episode of the K-12 Food Rescue Podcast, DanaHendricks, a parent of a student  in theStevenson Carson School District in the state of Washington, along Somer Meade,who works with  the Green Team in hercapacity as the local  Washington StateUniversity Extension representative,   sharehow they built a K-12 Food Rescue program after Dana's son noticed so much foodbeing wasted in his school.  Dana wasable to discover the resources at FoodRescue.net, and connect with Food Rescueto walk through the steps of establishing a food waste solution in her sonsschool. 

    Canadian K-12 Food Rescue Leaders Myra Datta, Dyanne Jiang, Ishaan Grotra

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 37:11


    Listen to the inspiring story of 3 Appleby College studentsin Canada.  Myra Datta, Dyanne Jiang, and Ishaan Grotra have led a food waste reduction movement in their school district by implementing some unique ideas through their WasteZero Project to encourage student participation!  Enjoy our first Canadian episode of the K-12 Food Rescue Podcast.

    Kentucky K-12 Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leader Josey Crew

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 17:34


    Listen to the inspiring journey of Josey Crew, the Directorof Child Nutrition at Hardin County Schools in Kentucky.   In this episode, Josey shares about her background serving children and families need through the WIC program, and then subsequently becoming the Director of Child Nutrition at Hardin County Schools.  Hardin County Schools delivers an amazing Food Share program and Share Table program that is a model of all school districts in the U.S.A. 

    New Jersey School Food Waste Solution Leader Heather Thompson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 23:34


    Listen to the exciting journey of Table To Table Executive Director Heather Thompson. In this episode, Heather shares about her 20 plus year journey in the not for profit world, which includes learning about food waste, and then pursuing solutions to school food waste through a program called I-Rescue Lunch.

    Oklahoma K-12 Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leaders Emily McNally and Megan Quickle

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 24:46


    Listen to the inspiring story of Oklahoma's first partnership between a public school district and a food bank to provide one solution to a component of school food waste. After Oklahoma recently passed state legislation clarifying school surplus food donations are safe, legal, and encouraged, Emily McNally and Meagan Quickle started conversations about a potential partnership between The Broken Arrow Public Schools and Broken Arrow Neighbors starting with 2 pilot schools that have resulted in over 1,000 pounds of rescued food preserved to feed families instead of landfills in the Broken Arrrow community. Emily McNally is The Director of Child Nutrition for Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma, and Megan Quickle is The Executive Director of Broken Arrow Neighbors.

    New York K-12 Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leader Livia Fleming

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 18:47


    Listen to the inspiring school food waste solution journey of Livia Fleming, who works with schools in New York to rescue food, leading the #FoodIsNotTrash movement to make sure nothing is wasted.

    Alaska K-12 Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leader Jenn Duncan

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 13:46


    Jenn Duncan, 4th grade teacher in Fairbanks Alaska, shares her inspiring story about school food waste solutions in the 132nd episode of the K-12 Food Rescue Podcast. Alaska is the 41st state featured on the K-12 Food Rescue Podcast! Thank you Jenn for sharing your story!

    Bellevue East HS Nebraska School Food Waste Solution Leaders Rachel Carraher and Lisa Connell

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 32:16


    Bellevue East HS Nebraska Science teacher Rachel Carraher, and Lisa Connell, a student in the Bellevue East Green Initiative Club, share their school food waste solutions that have led to an estimated 140 items per day being rescued since January of 2020, and thousands of pounds of food composted, rather than feeding a landfill.

    Nebraska K-12 Food Rescue Student Leaders Jacki Petrow and Kellen Bees

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 29:20


    Listen to the inspiring school food waste solution story of a current student, Kellen Bees, at Bellevue West HS in Nebraska, and current University of Nebraska Freshman, Jacki Petrow, in Nebraska. Both Jacki and Kellen share how the schools partnership with Green Bellevue was resurrected after Covid, and how it is currently thriving today at Bellevue West HS.

    Newark Academy K-12 Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leaders in NJ

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 13:07


    Listen to Newark Academy students, and their Science teacher, Debra Taveras, discuss their I-Rescue Lunch initiative, which encourages K-12 students to rescue, recycle and reduce food waste while feeding hungry neighbors. Through the use of the nonprofit's app, Table to Table I-Rescue and key partnerships with school ambassadors, wholesome unopened food like applesauce, fruit, yogurt as well as prepared cafeteria entrees are placed in crates for pickup by Table to Table volunteers and delivered to partners such as shelters, group homes or soup kitchens.

    North Dakota School Food Waste Solution Leader Jill Ambuehl

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 31:04


    Listen to the inspiring story of the Great Plains Food Bank in North Dakota and their school meal repack program. Jill Ambuehl is the Hunger Free North Dakota Coalition Coordinator, and in this 128th episode of the K-12 Food Rescue Podcast from our 39th state to share a school food waste solution story, Jill shares about the Coalitions efforts to make sure nothing is wasted in North Dakota schools.

    Rhode Island School Food Waste Solution Leaders Ethan and Emma

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 26:04


    Listen to the story of the Waste Warrior Program at Richmond Elementary in Rhode Island, featuring 3rd grade students Ethan Heys and Emma Ferguson, principal Mrs. Sharon Martin, and teachers Mrs. Daigle and Mrs. Stahl.

    Louisiana School Food Waste Solution Leader Jacqueline Richard

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 19:31


    Jacqueline Richard is the School Nutrition Program Director of the Calcasieu Parish School District.  Four years ago she noticed food waste at one elementary school, and developed a program that could be replicated in each school for students to participate in a share cart program.   After a hurricane and covid stifled the program for a few years, the program has been rebuilt, and Jacqueline shares her story in this episode of the K-12 Food Rescue Podcast.  This episode represents the 38th state we have shared a school food waste success story from.

    Alabama School Food Waste Solution Leader Jenny Waltman

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 37:29


    Listen to the inspiring story of Grace Klein Community founder Jenny Waltman, and author of "God Chose the Wrong Person". Grace Klein Community in Birmingham Alabama has 600 food rescue drivers, and is able to provide 2 million pounds of food to 500,000 children and families in need from multiple Grace Klein Community locations. In addition, Grace Klein Community partners with 62 schools, and has a vision for every school in Alabama to adopt share table and K-12 Food Rescue policies in the future.

    Eau Claire Wisconsin School Food Waste Solution Leader Paul Tolar

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 18:56


    Paul Tolar is the General Manager of Operations at The Eau Claire Area School District in Wisconsin. In this episode, Paul share about the origins of the composting and share table programs, and provides compelling data from school food waste audits that demonstrate the importance finding school food waste solutions nationwide.

    South Bend Indiana School Food Waste Solution Leader Jim Conklin With Cultivate Food Rescue

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 32:35


    Listen to the inspiring story of Jim Conklin, co-founder and Executive Director of Cultivate Food Rescue in South Bend Indiana.

    Maryland K-12 Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leader Rachel Ni

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 13:30


    Listen to the inspiring story of Rachel Ni, who recently graduated from Centennial HS in Maryland. Rachel noticed food was being wasted at an alarming rate, and she took action. Listen to her testimony at the 5:06 mark of the link below at a board of education meeting. https://hcpsstv.v3.swagit.com/videos/270604

    K-12 Food Rescue MD School Food Waste Solution Leader Lamia Ayaz

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 29:38


    In this episode, soon to be freshman at Yale Lamia Ayaz, looks back on her experience acquiring grants for composting and share tables at Howard High School in Maryland, as well as several other schools. 

    Rock Bridge Virginia School Food Waste Solution Leader Ginny Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 15:48


    Listen to the inspiring story of Ginny Johnson, the Sustainability Coordinator of The Boxerwood Education Association in Rock Bridge Virginia. Ginny helped establish the Waste Busters composting program in 5 elementaries Rock Bridge County, which also features share tables. Last year, the schools composted 3.5 tons of wasted food combined in all 5 schools.

    Arkansas School Food Waste Solution and K-12 Food Rescue Leaders

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024 34:42


    Violet Hart, Emmet Brick, and Milcha-Hulen Posnak are all former students from Fayetteville High School in Arkansas, while Sylvia Smith is headed into her senior year. Each of them had Mr. Clay Morton as an AP Environmental Science teacher. Listen their journey of finding a solution for school food waste not only in their school, but their entire school district.

    Vietnam K-12 Food Rescue Food Waste Solution Leader Nghia Luu

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024 26:20


    The impact of K-12 Food Rescue has reached world wide! Nghia Luu, from True North International School in Hanoi Vietnam, discovered K-12 Food Rescue resources online while working oh his Zero Waste Project, in in this episode he talks about his journey developing the project, and how the resources he found online helped him along the way. Their are many differences in he way school breakfasts and lunches are administered in Vietnam compared to the United States, but Nghia did not let those differences prevent him from developing a school food waste solution True North International School. We hope you enjoy this episode!

    Massachusetts K-12 Food Rescue Food Waste Solution Leader Finbar Heaslip

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 25:21


    Finbar Heaslip is the Food Waste Diversion/Compost Manager at Quincy Public Schools in Massachusetts. In this episode, Finbar shares about pilot programs in two high schools in the school district. The program focuses on composting and share tables, and Finbar shares not only the story and mechanics of both programs, but also some data collected. Finbar asked me to mention that in addition to food scraps from the trays of students, they compost back of the cafeteria food waste as well.

    Georgia School Food Waste Solution & K-12 Food Rescue Leader Gerin Hennebaul

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 30:27


    Listen to the inspiring story of Gerin Hennebaul, a a 27 year educator at Lovin Elementary in Georgia who has worked tirelessly on school food waste solutions in her school district. Gerin chronicles Lovin Elementary School's implementation of composting and share table program, and details the importance of student involvement and leadership in these programs.

    Maryland Student School Food Waste Solution Leader Tanvi Modugula

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 16:15


    Listen to the inspiring story of a K-12 Food Rescue student leader, Tanvi Modugula, a student at Hebron High School in Montgomery County in Maryland.

    Vermont K-12 Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leader John Craig

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 12:38


    Hear the story of how the Vermont South Burlington High School Share Fridge came into existence, and the impact it makes, as told by assistant principal John Craig.

    Iowa K-12 Food Rescue and School Food Waste Solution Leader Jennifer Trent

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 21:12


    Listen to the inspiring 13 year school food waste solution journey of Jennifer Trent, the program manager of the Iowa Waste Reduction Center at the University Of Northern Iowa.

    Idaho School Food Waste Solution and K-12 Food Rescue Leaders Iris Saxer and Dave Hudacsko

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024 31:07


    Listen to the inspiring stories of Iris Saxer and Dave Hudacsko, school food waste solution leaders in Teton Valley Idaho. Dave is the owner of RAD Curbside, who manages all waste hauling and curbside recycling in Teton Valley, and Iris has been championing food waste solutions in Teton Valley Idaho for several years.

    Burbank California School Food Waste Solution Leader Amy Hammes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 30:50


    Listen to Amy Hammes, a Recycling Specialist In Burbank California, share her story of learning about school food waste and finding successful solutions.

    Oregon School Food Waste Solution Leaders Rikkilynn Starliper and Loudes Yparraguirre

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2024 22:13


    Listen to the Child Nutrition Director of the Umatilla School District, Rikkilyn Starlipper, as well as Food Corps member Lourdes Yparraguirre, share their inspiring journey to reduce food waste in the Umatilla School District in Oregon.

    Rhode Island School Food Waste Solution Leaders Emma Pautz and Bella Quiora

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2024 32:04


    Listen to Rhode Island High School Students Bella Quiora and Emma Pautz share their journey fighting school food waste with the Youth Composting Campaign Initiative, and several other action steps they have taken to battle school food waste.

    Ohio School Food Waste Solution Leader Tally Pasiuk and John Gregg Elementary Student Leaders

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2024 12:18


    John Gregg Elementary School student leaders know that #FoodIsNotTrash! Listen to their inspiring story, as well as the story of their 5th and 6th grade science teacher, Tally Pasiuk.

    Indiana K-12 Food Rescue Leaders in IPS Sharon Sellers, Addyson Hall, and Malaya Loredo

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024 23:58


    Listen to the exciting journey of finding school food waste solutions at IPS 39 William McKinley Elementary, as told by Instructional Coach Sharon Sellers and students Addyson Hall and Malaya Loredo.

    School Food Waste Solution Leader Erin Dorr in Bedford MA

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 23:38


    Listen to Erin Dorr, a facilities management consultant for Bedford Public Schools in MA, share how she first became interested in the subject of school food waste, and the steps she took to make a difference and lead the #FoodIsNotTrash movement in Bedford Public Schools.

    Las Vegas K-12 Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leader Andrew Plotkin

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 34:35


    Hear the inspiring story of the founder of The Should Project, Andrew Plotkin, as he shares how he learned about wasted food in schools, and what he did to make sure 40 pounds a day of food in one school is given to a local caring agency instead of feeding landfills. https://www.theshouldproject.org/

    Colorado Fountain Valley Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leaders

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024 18:01


    Fountain Valley Food Rescue is featured on the 104th episode of the K-12 Food Rescue Podcast. Students Stella Rhee, Annabelle Cabaniss, and Gunnar Mason, along with the science department chair of Fountain Valley, Danielle Llewelyn, share the story of Fountain Valley Food Rescue in Colorado.

    Fresno K-12 Food Rescue School Food Waste Solution Leaders Mark and Mallory Topoozian

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024 22:33


    Mark and Mallory Topoozian are siblings in Fresno California, and Mark attended Bullard High School, and Mallory currently attends Bullard High School. Mark started a school recovery program that spread to 25 schools, and Mallory started a monthly effort to provide food for food insecure families for she and her classmates to participate in. Mallory is also involved the food recovery program Mark founded at Bullard and beyond. Mark recently graduated from college, and Mallory is currently a Sophomore, and they were nice enough to take the time with me together to share their story on the 103rd episode of the K-12 Food Rescue Podcast.

    Zionsville K-12 Food Rescue Leaders Angie Campbell, Stephanie Mbathi, and Austin Ide

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 19:04


    The Zionsville Presbyterian Church Food Pantry has partnered with the Zionsville Community Schools and K-12 Food Rescue since 2015, rescuing an estimated 315,000 pounds of food from 9 schools that is distributed 2 days a week to children and families in need in the community. Angie Campbell, Stephanie Mbathi, and Austin Ide have volunteered faithfully for many years, and in this episode, they share the many ways the K-12 Food Rescue has impacted the community, even beyond the hunger relief provided. For more information, you can learn more about the ZPC Food Pantry at the link below. https://www.zpc.org/event/1753814-2022-11-03-zionsville-food-pantry/

    The K-12 Food Rescue Story: Episode 100

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2024 35:55


    In celebration of Food Rescue's 18th year, and our 100th episode of the K-12 Food Rescue Podcast, John Williamson, our founder, president, and executive director, tells the Food Rescue story from 2006 to present. Discover how Food Rescue came into existence, and how and why the transition to K-12 Food Rescue with a focus on student education and leadership came to pass.

    San Mateo School Food Waste Solution Leader Emilie Dirck

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 34:28


    Emilie Dirck works with San Mateo Health and provides training on food waste audits and school share tables. San Mateo Health has a full section of their website dedicated to these subjects. https://www.smchealth.org/sharetable There are currently 11 of 300 schools in the school districts they serve involved directly with Emilie and San Mateo Health, with 4 more to be onboarded soon. That leaves 285 opportunities for growth of the program in San Mateo. Based on Emilie's observations from the share table program and food waste audits in participating schools, if the remaining 285 schools in San Mateo participated, over 7 million food items could be fed to children and families in need rather than landfills. Reach out to Emilie today to learn more about share tables and food waste audits by going to the link above.

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