In my sophomore year at the University of Dayton, I started working at the Brook Center at the Food4Flyers food pantry. Initially, just looking for a way to get involved on campus, I found myself giving back in a way I hadn’t imagined. Not only did it lead me to the Hanley Sustainability Institute, but this role also reshaped my understanding of the intersection of sustainability and human rights.
My role at the Brook Center directly works with UD’s chapter of the Food Recovery Network, a national organization that is committed to fighting food waste. At UD, the Hanley Sustainability Institute’s Food Systems team partners with Dining Services to recover excess food from University-hosted events, which is then brought to the Brook Center and packaged into single-serve containers.
My shift at the Brook Center aligned with the Food Recovery Network dropoff, and soon enough, I was working hands-on, making what would otherwise be wasted food accessible for students. Each week, I watch ample amounts of catered pasta, sandwiches and other perfectly edible leftovers arrive at the pantry for repackaging, as opposed to ending up in a trash can.
Recovering and repackaging this food redirects nutritious meals to students who might otherwise be deciding between groceries and tuition. We often forget that food is a human right, and working with the Food Recovery Network helps support this right.
My involvement with the Food Recovery Network at the Brook Center became the spark that led me to apply to the Hanley Sustainability Institute’s Student Leaders program. Seeing the direct impact of the Food Systems team’s work inspired me to think more deeply about my own role in sustainability at UD.
When I joined HSI, I was placed on the Circularity team. Over time, I have found that working on circularity has deepened my understanding and appreciation for what the Food Recovery Network does. It is circularity in action: taking what would otherwise be wasted and circulating it back into the community to support those who need it. This perspective of integrating reuse principles into everyday student life led me to take on more responsibility in my work at the food pantry.
I have taken on the leadership position of being a student manager at the Brook Center, which includes overseeing day-to-day pantry operations, coordinating the weekly Food Recovery Network drop-off and supporting my fellow student staff.
Working at the Brook Center and HSI has shown me the interconnectedness of social justice and sustainability. In 2025 alone, these efforts recovered 2,956 pounds of food. Beyond quantitative data, I have been able to witness the relief and excitement on students’ faces when they open a fridge stocked with meals and with a wide variety of options.
Moments like these remind me of how caring for people is inseparable from caring for the planet. Sustainability and social justice are deeply reciprocal, and when we care for the members of our community, we are also caring for our planet.