Driving Change: Volunteer Management and Engagement in Food Recovery Operations

Food recovery operations in urban areas depend on volunteers to collect, repackage, and distribute surplus food. RECIPES is partnering with Manna, Food Rescue US, and the Maryland Food Bank to examine the role of these volunteers. Together, we are, focusing on motivations, transportation emissions, and the economic value of their labor. By analyzing these factors, the research aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of food recovery efforts.

Collaborations with non-academic partners continue to provide valuable perspectives and data for the research. Through surveys, transportation data from volunteer-driven vs. centralized recovery models, and interviews with food recovery organizations and volunteers, the study seeks to understand operational challenges and opportunities for long-term improvement. A major finding so far is that while organizations quantify the environmental benefits of food recovery, they often do not account for the emissions generated by volunteer transportation—a gap this study aims to address.