The Food Recovery Network (FRN) at NC State is the local chapter of the largest student-led movement dedicated to ending hunger and reducing food waste in the U.S. We donate surplus food from across the supply chain to local nonprofits feeding the community.

Since 2015, our chapter has redistributed over 16,000 pounds of food from campus dining halls. Join our impactful service projects:

• Dining Hall Recoveries: Our core initiative involves visiting campus dining halls to package surplus food into individual meals. These are donated directly to the Feed the Pack Pantry and the South Wilmington St. Shelter.
• Athletic Event Recovery: We help recover leftover food from football games and other major sporting events and donate it to community organizations.

Help NC State celebrate Earth Month! Earth Fair is happening on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and we need volunteers to help make it a success!

Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Location: Stafford Commons at Talley Student Union
Time Commitment: Please see available shifts at the link below.
Transportation: Volunteers should walk, bike, or bus. If driving, please use your current parking permits. No parking permits are available.
Service: Volunteers will assist with event set up/break down of Stafford Commons and/or help attendees and vendors.

Free t-shirts will be provided to all volunteers as a thank-you!

Come volunteer and celebrate Earth Month by spending a few hours beautifying Lake Raleigh, a 75-acre lake amid a 96-acre protected forest, April 24. Earth Day is April 22.

Volunteer tasks will include collecting litter along greenway trails, natural trails and Lake Raleigh.

Training and volunteering: All volunteers must attend a safety training session at 10 a.m. You can decide how long to volunteer. The clean-up effort will conclude by noon.

Where to join us and park: You can join the volunteer effort at either of the following locations:

• The Lake Raleigh fishing pier: If you plan to walk or ride a bike or the bus from campus, consider meeting us at the fishing pier. Paid parking is available at the Poulton parking lot on Partners Way.
• The Park Alumni Center: The center’s address is 2450 Alumni Drive in Raleigh, and parking there is free.

What to bring: Volunteers must wear close-toed shoes. Please bring water in a reusable water bottle so you can stay hydrated. All other materials and supplies, such as gloves, will be provided.

If you have questions about the clean-up effort, send an email to sustainability@ncsu.edu.

Feed the Pack Food Pantry is a university resource that depends on the dedication and effort of volunteers to keep the pantry open and running smoothly. While we are fortunate to have paid students who work in the pantry, we rely on our volunteers to help pantry operations run smoothly. We are accessible to all current NC State students, staff, and faculty and we would love for the entire NC State community to get involved.