Celebrating Ten Years of Food Link
In March 2012, Food Link co-founders DeAnne Dupont and Julie Kremer first learned about food waste when picking up donations from a local bakery for the Minuteman Parent Association Comedy Night. Learning that bread and pastries were thrown out each day led to the discussion, “we need to do something about this.”
Within days of this discovery, DeAnne, Julie, and a handful of friends began rescuing surplus food and distributing it to people in need from their own vehicles. Dubbed the Food Recovery Project, this dedicated group quickly began rescuing from four locations and connecting with social service agencies in Arlington and Bunker Hill Community College.
The initial Food Recovery Project volunteers never imagined their project growing to its current size and impact. Food Link is an incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We move an average of 4,000 lbs. of food each day, serving 50 communities across Eastern Massachusetts. In 2021, we rescued 1.4 million lbs. of food, reaching 75,000 individuals.
As we reflect on the past ten years of food rescue, join us in revisiting our milestones and celebrating our accomplishments. By 2023, Food Link expects to divert 1.5-2 million pounds of food annually from the waste stream and deliver 1.6 million meals’ worth of food to our community partners. Please consider making a gift to support the future of our mission.
March 2012
Food Link is founded (as the Food Recovery Project) by DeAnne Dupont and Julie Kremer.
December 2012
Food Link (as the Food Recovery Project) awarded its first grant, from the b.good Family Foundation.
November 2013
Food Link (as the Food Recovery Project) wins Institution Reuse Award at the MassRecycle 17th Annual Recycling Awards.
September 2014
Food Link officially changes its name from Food Recovery Project to Food Link.
Food Link becomes a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
November 2014
Food Link shares space at the auxiliary Arlington Food Pantry location at 117 Broadway, having its first location to work from, instead of only their vehicles.
October 2015
Food Link hires its first staff member, Brittany Peats, as Operations Director.
November 2015
Initial site visit by the Lenny Zakim Fund, leading to Food Link’s first LZF grant in January 2016.
January 2016
Food Link purchases its first food rescue vehicle, aMEALia 1.
January 2017
Food Link installs its first refrigeration units.
September 2017
Food Link begins to look for a new home to lease.
March 2018
Food Link opens its administrative offices on Brattle Street.
April 2018
Food Link receives a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Town of Arlington for renovation or purchase of a new home.
November 2018
Food Link purchases the building at 108 Summer Street through CDBG funding and financing through Leader Bank.
February 2019 - December 2019
Reverse Architecture designs the new building.
July 2019
Food Link moves into 17 Irving Street (the old Parmenter School) as the Arlington Food Pantry Broadway building is to be demolished.
Food Link acquires a large donation of commercial kitchen equipment from the old Germaine Lawrence School, providing much-needed work tables and refrigeration.
July 2019 - February 2020
Rubicon Builders is contracted to renovate the building.
Permitting is completed.
November 2019
Food Link reaches 3 million lbs. of food rescued and distributed.
March 2020
Food Link relocates operations to 888 Massachusetts Avenue.
Construction begins on the Hub.
June 2020
Food Link publically launches a $3.25 million Capital Campaign to fund the new building, the Hub.
The Capital Campaign reaches $1.6M, 50% of the total goal.
Food Link secures construction financing as Capital Campaign and renovations continue simultaneously.
July 2020
Food Link moves its operations to the First Parish Universalist Unitarian Church.
Food Link purchases its second food rescue van, Little Link.
August 2020
Food Link purchases its third food rescue van, aMEALia 2.
December 2020
Food Link reaches 4 million lbs. of food rescued and distributed.
March 2021
March is a significant month in Food Link history: Food Link moves to the Hub and begins to fully operate from the newly renovated building.
Food Link purchases its new 16’ box truck, with funding from a Food Security Infrastructure Grant, allowing for larger food pickups and deliveries.
July 2021
Food Link reaches 5 million lbs. of food rescued and distributed.
October 2021
Food Link is awarded the Environmental Merit Award in New England by the EPA.
March 2022
The Capital Campaign is completed.
Food Link (Food Recovery Project) celebrates its ten-year anniversary.