News
April 13th, 2025
Community Foundation at Friendship Donations Network
Friendship Donations Network (FDN) brings people together to care for each other and to care for our environment by rescuing nutritious food from stores and farms which would otherwise be thrown away. They serve food outlets which help more than 2,000 people a week and divert over 1,500 lbs. of good food from local landfills every day. And if the rescued food cannot be used right away, it is often used by farmers to care for their animals.
Food insecurity remains a pressing challenge in Tompkins County, where far too many individuals and families struggle to access reliable, healthy meals. Friendship Donations Network works tirelessly to bridge this gap by partnering with local food donors, including farms, grocery stores, and bakeries, to ensure surplus food doesn’t go to waste but instead nourishes our neighbors. FDN is part the Just Be Cause Center, a non-profit development center, that creates a space where these groups can conduct business in a professional and modern setting and support each other. It was launched in honor of Judy Dietz as a resource for not-for-profit organizations in the Tompkins County area and beyond. Inspired by Judy’s philanthropic work, the Center is dedicated to helping organizations increase their productivity and enhance their efficiency.
FDN delivers food to 50 partners throughout greater Tompkins County and into Cortland, Seneca, Schuyler and Tioga counties, picking up food seven days a week, often on short notice. They do this with an amazingly dedicated army of volunteers and one part time staff person, Director Megan Rose. Food distribution partners include food pantries, Child Development Council, REACH Medical, OAR, Tompkins Whole Health, and many others. FDN’s ethos comes out of the mutual aid movement in which people sharing food directly with others and not by way of an hierarchical agency is celebrated. They demonstrate the power and flexibility of a decentralized network of trust an simplicity. There are no eligibility criteria, no paperwork, no red tape to getting people the food they need. FDN shares that one thing we can all do is to advocate asking food providers what they do with their waste and to encourage people to normalize taking home leftovers from events attended. FDN volunteers and board members at the site visit shared the joys of their calling to work together to address hunger and environmental challenges in our community.