The Community College of Aurora (CCA) has been selected to join the Food Recovery Network’s 2025–2026 Community College Grant Cohort. CCA will receive a $5,000 grant along with a full year of individualized technical assistance to enhance and expand its food recovery and hunger-relief initiatives on campus and in the surrounding community.
The grant, awarded by the national nonprofit Food Recovery Network (FRN), supports community colleges committed to fighting food waste and student hunger by reclaiming surplus food and redirecting it to those in need. This marks CCA’s second award from the Food Recovery Network grant, and will enable the Division of Student Success to deepen processes for the recovery of surplus food on campus, work in partnership with Paragon, our campus café vendor, and continue to collaborate with local restaurants to expand CCA’s food recovery efforts within the community.
“This grant provides CCA with an opportunity to expand our food recovery program, promote food security among our students, and contribute to a more sustainable campus,” said Dra. Reyna Anaya, Vice President of Student Success at the Community College of Aurora. “We are honored to be part of FRN’s cohort and look forward to learning, collaborating, and growing alongside other institutions committed to reducing hunger and waste – efforts that directly support our commitment to Student Learning and Success.”
FRN’s Community College Grant Program empowers campuses to take action against food insecurity, particularly within underserved student populations. As part of the 2025–2026 cohort, CCA will gain access to a national network of support, training, and resources designed to help build long-term, student-led food recovery infrastructure.
The Community College of Aurora has already taken significant steps to combat food insecurity through initiatives such as our free Foxy’s Mobile Markets and Snack Stations on each of CCA’s three campuses, and a new spirit day meal voucher program. “At a time when higher education institutions are increasingly recognizing the importance of holistic student support and seeking ways to maximize the impact of basic needs programming, food recovery emerges as a valuable strategy to reduce waste while addressing hunger and larger basic needs of our student population,” said Beau Green, Executive Director of Student Advocacy. This new funding will enable the college to scale its efforts, recover more surplus food, and engage more students in meaningful, solution-focused work.
To learn more about student support services within the Division of Student Success, click HERE or email at [email protected].