Athens Food Rescue

05/27/2026

Reggie Morrow has been named the new executive director of Athens Food Rescue, replacing Teresa Curtiss, who’s stepping down.

“Having worked alongside Athens Food Rescue in the past, I’ve seen firsthand the impact the organization makes in turning surplus food into nourishment for our neighbors,” said Morrow. “That work matters deeply to me, which is why I am excited to take the job of executive director.”

Morrow officially starts June 1.

“I have enjoyed my time as executive director over the years, but I am ready to turn over the position into the very capable hands of Reggie,” Curtiss said. “I look forward to staying on as a board member and working with Reggie.”

Curtiss co-founded AFR in 2015. Over the years, the group has recovered 402,000 pounds of milk, bread, produce, stable shelf foods and other provisions.

Today, there are 20 generous donors whose participation helps fight hunger in Athens County. The food is collected by 20 volunteer members who deliver it to food pantries and food kitchens for distribution and meal service.

“I care deeply about ensuring good food reaches people who need it and that our local systems reduce waste while building dignity and connection,” said Morrow. “I am honored to help lead Athens Food Rescue into its next phase of growth.”

More information about AFR is available at https://www.athensfoodrescue.com. Anyone wishing to support the organization by volunteering or a monetary donation can do so there.

05/27/2026

Reggie Morrow has been named the new executive director of Athens Food Rescue, replacing Teresa Curtiss, who’s stepping down.

“Having worked alongside Athens Food Rescue in the past, I’ve seen firsthand the impact the organization makes in turning surplus food into nourishment for our neighbors,” said Morrow. “That work matters deeply to me, which is why I am excited to take the job of executive director.”

Morrow officially starts June 1.

“I have enjoyed my time as executive director over the years, but I am ready to turn over the position into the very capable hands of Reggie,” Curtiss said. “I look forward to staying on as a board member and working with Reggie.”

Curtiss co-founded AFR in 2015. Over the years, the group has recovered 402,000 pounds of milk, bread, produce, stable shelf foods and other provisions.

Today, there are 20 generous donors whose participation helps fight hunger in Athens County. The food is collected by 20 volunteer members who deliver it to food pantries and food kitchens for distribution and meal service.

“I care deeply about ensuring good food reaches people who need it and that our local systems reduce waste while building dignity and connection,” said Morrow. “I am honored to help lead Athens Food Rescue into its next phase of growth.”

More information about AFR is available on the group’s website, https://www.athensfoodrescue.com. Anyone wishing to support the organization by volunteering or a monetary donation can do so there.

05/22/2026

05/12/2026

Any way you look at it, 6847 pounds is a lot of food. It’s more than three tons. It’s many boxes and crates full. It’s several carloads.

Members of Athens Food Rescue lugged all that food from Ohio University fraternities, sororities and other donation sites to local food panties and kitchens for distribution to folks who don’t have enough to eat.

The food was leftover at the end of the school year and were it not for AFR, it would have gone to waste. Tossed out. Dumped in a landfill.

This kind of salvage effort is what AFR does pretty much every day. It just does a lot more of it when the students go home for the summer.

AFR is a not-for-profit group which also advocates and educates to reduce food waste. Funding comes from the generosity of corporate sponsors and area residents.

The recent pickups and deliveries involved eight AFR volunteers. It took place over several days.

The recipients of the food included United Campus Ministry in Athens, Feed My Sheep food pantry in Torch and The Church of Christ food pantry in Bishopville.

AFR executive director Teresa Curtiss coordinated the donations.
“We so much appreciate our donors, partner agencies and members,” says Curtiss. Everybody worked together to make the endeavor successful.”

More information about AFR is available on the group’s page and at https://www.athensfoodrescue.com. Anyone wishing to support the organization by volunteering or a monetary donation can do so there.

05/01/2026

Athens Food Rescue volunteers gathered Sunday (4/26) to celebrate the distribution of over 46,000 pounds of food to area food pantries and kitchens.

It was the annual volunteer appreciation event held as a thank you for the time and effort put into getting donated food to hungry people locally.

AFR executive director Teresa Curtiss says the 46,332 pounds in 2025 is the equivalent of 38,600 meals. She also reported that since its founding in 2015, AFR has distributed approximately 390,000 pounds of food.

Curtiss added that saving food from being thrown out has another benefit – it does not have to be dumped in a landfill, saving space there and fuel consumption.

“I’m really proud of the work our volunteers and our board members do,” said Curtiss. They’re a great group of people I get to work with.”

Curtiss will be stepping down as director on June 1 and returning as a member of the board of directors. The process of hiring a successor is underway.

AFR has 20 volunteers who pick up perishable and non-perishable food most every day of the week from 20 donors. The food is transported to 16 partner agencies, including United Campus Ministry, the First United Methodist Church Monday Lunch and the Bishopville Food Pantry.

AFR is a not-for-profit group which also advocates and educates to reduce food waste. Funding comes from the generosity of corporate sponsors and area residents.

In the last year, according to Curtiss, AFR received $6500 in grants and $17,000 in individual donations.

More information about AFR is available on the group’s page and at https://www.athensfoodrescue.com. Anyone wishing to support the organization by volunteering or a monetary donation can do so there.

04/20/2026

Ohio is doing a fantastic job of rescuing food! In 2025, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Food Access Coordinator began supporting the coordination of food rescue organizations across Ohio through facilitating connections amongst food rescue organizations and with local health departments. This information was gathered by this new group, Ohio Food Rescue.