K-12 Food Rescue: A Food Waste Solution Podcast

8th grade students at Shuksan MS in Washington Yanely, Bahar, Alexa and Kimberly, recently took some actions to address food waste in their community. Please enjoy episode 202 of the K-12 Food Rescue Podcast and learn about their journey to make an impact in their community.

In Episode 201, the Get 2 Green Team “Nature Protectors” at Columbia Elementary in Virginia, , Eleanor, Anelise,& Rowan, and their Program Coordinator,Rosemary Nevin, share their journey of working on food waste solutions in their school.

In episode 200, Mashpee high school students in Massachusetts Meri Smith, Liam Assad, and Owen Ziehl, share their experience of joining their High School Green Team and working on school food waste solutions like composting and share tables, and a few other initiatives related to sustainability issues .

In episode 199, Karena Bozarth, the sustainability manager in the Food and Nutrition Department in the Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in Florida, and Emily Grant, the director of operations in Florida and Chicago of FoodRecovery.org, discuss their partnership that has led to over 400,000 pounds of food being rescued since 2022 in the OPCS.

In episode 198, educators Megan Perfetti and Christine Wolfski at Brashaer High School in Pittsburgh, share their journey about co-founding the school's onsite food pantry that feeds over 270 students each week with nutritious surplus food.

In Episode 197, Dr. Melissa Pflugh Prescott shares her research as an assistant professor of nutrition at  Case Western Reserve University  (and formerly at the  Universityof Illinois). Her research focuses on sustainable food systems and public health, and she is dedicated to reducing school food waste while simultaneously improving child nutrition.

In Episode 196, David Neville, the owner of  Capstone Farms in Kentucky, shares his experience as an advocate school food waste solutions through several key initiatives, as well as farm to school programs.  David was named the Global Ties U.S. 2026 Citizen Diplomat Award, and his ability to share his Farm To School experience using his unique style and story telling is a real treat. We know you w...

In Episode 195, Marc Milton, the Director of Food Serviceat The Downey Unified School District in California,   shares his food waste solution journey that started in the restaurant industry for 9 years, and has culminated in managing the food service department in The Downey Unified School District.

In episode 194, Scott Anderson, with Phoenix Marketing, and formerly a school food service director of Madison County Schools in Richmond Kentucky, shares his extensive background implementing school food waste solutions during his career.

In episode 193, Stacy Koppen, the Nutrition Services Director at Saint Paul Public Schools in Minnesota, shares her experience reducing food waste in Saint Paul Public Schools, a district with 60 schools and 32,000 students. For more info you can email Stacy at Stacy.koppen@spps.org

In episode 192, Shona Vitelli, a science teacher at MashpeeMS/HS in Massachusetts, shares her experience leading share table, composting, and green team initiatives at Mashpee MS/HS.

Chiara Luey, a senior at  Crystal Springs Uplands School in Hillsborough, California , is a prominent youth environmental leader and the winner of the 2026 Youth Sustainability Award from Sustainable San Mateo County. In episode 191, Chiara shares how her journey with food waste audits led to other opportunities for her to engage in environmental sustainability sustainability issues.

In episode 190, Amy Faricy, the manager of menu services for The Douglas County School District in Colorado, and Beth Church the sustainability coordinator in Douglas County School District, share their perspective on school food waste initiatives in their district, including share tables, menu planning, composting, and other sustainability efforts.

In episode 189, Jennifer Baybado, a teacher at Sacajawea Elementary in the Vancouver Public School District in the state of Washington, shares her journey working on school food waste solution initiatives.

In Episode 188, Jill Keimach, a Physical Education and STEM teacher at Dayton Consolidated Schools in Maine, shares about a significant student-led initiative to reduce school food waste.

In Episode 187, founder of Let’s Go Compost, shares her journey of establishing a nation wide composting program for schools. Let's Go Compost is a  national nonprofit located in Scottsdale AZ, focused on practical education, common-sense waste reduction, and local responsibility.

In Episode 186, Kelly Price, a Manheim Township Schools Food Service Director in Pennsylvania, shares her journey to establish share table and food rescue policies in her school district.

Episode 185 features Eleanor Chmielowicz, the Recycling Coordinator for the Brookline Department of Public Works in Brookline Massachusetts, who partners with Brookline schools with various sustainability initiatives, including food waste solutions.

Episode 184 features Alicia Howe , the faculty advisor forthe Eco Club at Memorial HS in the Eau Claire Area School District in Wisconsin, as well as  HS students Erielle, Solvieg, and Audrey, who are members if the  Eco Club, which has helped set up “no thank you”  tables and recycling initiatives in the school district.

Episode 183 features Emily Chatelain, owner of the School Food and Wellness Group, the host of The Cafeteria Confessions podcast, and founder of The 3 O’clock Project in Louisiana.

Episode 182 features Kate Lemerich, Supervisor of Secondary STEM and Co-Chair of Metuchen Public School Sustainability Committee in New Jersey, Nikki Silipino   , a RegionalOperations Associate at Share My Meals, and Sarah Teti with the First Presbyterian Food Pantry in Metuchen. Working together, they carry out the meal recovery program in Metuchen Public Schools.

Episode 181 features Arianna Sun Sofia Hennessy, and Ruth Geleye, founders of Novasta Boston, a student led Food Rescue organization in Boston, Massachusetts.

Episode 180 features Siddharth Nara and Arpit Pareek, founders of Second Serving, a student led Food Rescue organization inLouden, Virginia.

Episode 179 of the K-12 Food Rescue Podcast features SophiaZhang,  a senior at Millard West High School in Nebraska.  Sophia created a project called Beyond the Bite working with Kids Against Hunger and Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue.

Episode 178 of The K-12 Food Rescue Podcast features Chef Jamie Finkelstein, who is head of the Culinary Arts Dept. at Westerly HS in Rhode Island, and is actively involved with re-purposing meals with the help of student leaders and making sure they are received by families in need in the community through their Food Rescue community fridge.