Greetings from the New Development Desk!

Rebecca Fennel, Development Assistant here. I’ve been in the office for just four weeks, and I already feel like I’m a big part of the team. With the 6th Annual Strawberry Fete coming up in just a week and many other fundraising tasks on my to-do list, things are moving fast. It’s an exciting first job to have!

Before I joined BAG, I was a student at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. In my last year as an Environmental Studies major, I developed a keen interest in food rescue. My senior year, I did field research and wrote a thesis paper about food waste; through the process, I learned that food recovery was a sound way to mitigate the environmental and economic consequences of food waste while simultaneously combatting hunger. Naturally, my spring semester job search led me to Boston Area Gleaners, who occupies an interesting niche in the realm of food rescue.

Prior to senior year, I had various food-related experiences, including an internship at a food bank (Food Gatherers), a summer as an urban gardens educator (Groundwork Somerville), work as a farmers market assistant (Siena Farms) and a gig as a prep cook (Sofra Bakery & Café). All of these positions stemmed from my love of cooking and a curiosity about the food system in which I was a part. In these next few years, I hope to continue to grow my knowledge and passion about food.

I’m so happy to be back in the Boston area, where I grew up, and to grow with the Gleaners. I am confident that this position will provide me with just as many assets as I am giving back to the organization.