Coming Together at the Table

The Food Bank of Delaware was founded in 1981 with the goal of feeding the hungry. Since then, its core mission has remained the same, but the need and the vision have grown.

Through the years, the University of Delaware has collaborated with the Food Bank in many ways, from Parking Services' annual canned food drive, to food rescue from University dining halls, to more established projects with academic and UD Cooperative Extension partners.

"Having [the University's] pool of expertise and students has been incredibly valuable to the Food Bank," said Kim Turner, vice president of communications at the Food Bank. "And the community partnership … it's always been a two-way street."

Turner, one of many UD alumni among the organization's staff, first worked with the Food Bank as a UD student more than 15 years ago. Now, she and other staff members look to the University's student body for volunteers and support.

"Having a source of young people who are enthusiastic, who we can introduce our mission to, is important," she said.

The Food Bank of Delaware serves all three Delaware counties from two locations in Newark and Milford, and through a network of local partners like food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, and shelters. In addition to providing pantry staples, shelf-stable foods and fresh produce, the Food Bank hosts culinary training programs and educational workshops.

UD's Cooperative Extension contracts with the Food Bank to provide nutrition education as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program.

"We're coming together to think about solutions to some of the challenges that exist in both the emergency food system … [and] the food system at large," Extension Specialist Gina Crist said. "We're at the table, planning together and coming together."