July Member Meeting Highlights: Amazon Local Good, FIFA World Cup Food Rescue & Member Updates
The National Food Recovery Association’s July Member Meeting brought together members from across the country to share successes, discuss challenges, and learn about new opportunities to strengthen edible food recovery efforts nationwide.
By the NFRA Executive Board
Amazon Local Good Introduces Free Transportation Support for Nonprofits
Our featured speaker, Azucena Flores from Amazon Local Good, introduced members to Amazon’s 100% pro bono transportation service for eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
Through the program, Amazon provides cargo and Sprinter vans at no cost to transport eligible donations, including non-refrigerated produce, root vegetables, shelf-stable food, clothing, hygiene products, and household items. The program currently supports more than 700 nonprofits nationwide through approximately 2,600 vetted driver partners, with drivers completing criminal background checks and DMV screenings.
Routes can typically accommodate about 2–3 pallets worth of cargo per van, travel up to 50–60 miles each way, and include up to 4–5 stops per route, depending on driver availability and route requirements. Each route is dedicated exclusively to the nonprofit’s cargo, and there are no contracts, invoices, or fees associated with participation.
The program does have some limitations. Refrigerated or frozen items, meats, dairy, and other temperature-sensitive products cannot currently be transported through this service. Standard vans are not equipped for pallet handling, although box trucks may be available in select cities and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Amazon Local Good is currently focused on recurring routes due to capacity constraints, but organizations interested in future expansion are encouraged to schedule a 30-minute intake call to help plan potential 2027 transportation needs (her contact info is in the recent member email). Amazon is also working toward a future online booking system that will make route requests easier to manage.
Member Q&A: Exploring Future Transportation Opportunities
Members asked questions about potential future capabilities, including:
Refrigerated transportation: Refrigerated Sprinter vans are not currently available in the U.S., but the team shared that this capability remains an area of future development.
Semi-trucks and 53-foot trailers: These options remain on hold and are not yet approved.
Mixed grocery pickups: Loads may be accepted if perishables are limited, such as small amounts of berries. However, loads containing meats or dairy are not eligible.
Dense urban markets: Cities such as San Francisco are supported, with availability confirmed during the intake process.
Pickup fees: Participating nonprofits themselves must not charge fees for transportation services provided through this program.
Members also discussed Amazon’s broader food access efforts, including its Home Delivery Program. The resource linked highlights another way Amazon supports food access efforts beyond transportation, helping organizations learn about additional tools and programs that may complement their work.
FIFA World Cup Food Rescue Successes
Members shared exciting food recovery efforts connected to FIFA World Cup events across the country. Highlights included:
FoodRecovery.org recovered more than 20,000 pounds of surplus food across five matches in Philadelphia.
Rock and Wrap It Up! supported food recovery efforts from fan festivals throughout New Jersey.
Second Servings Houston completed approximately 15 pickups from NRG Stadium, averaging around 400 pounds per pickup.
Second Servings Houston also shared an exciting new pilot program recovering surplus food from 10 Houston Independent School District schools, focusing on campuses with the highest levels of surplus food generation.
Members also highlighted Pennsylvania’s upcoming Share Tables Guide, being developed through the Pennsylvania Food Policy Council to support school and community-based food sharing efforts.
NFRA Updates & Member Resources
Several important NFRA updates were shared during the meeting:
Members were reminded to complete and sign the updated NFRA Member Agreement by July 31. Please view Column H to see whether your name has been checked off. If it hasn't, please complete the Member Agreement by the end of the month. This applies to both Delegates and Representatives.
NFRA launched its new Member Feedback Form in our Resource Hub, which includes an anonymous submission option.
The Membership & Outreach Workgroup is collecting member resources—including SOPs, toolkits, guides, and other materials—to add to the NFRA Resource Hub and support knowledge-sharing across the sector. Share any suggestions here!
Continuing to Build Together
Thank you to Azucena Flores and the Amazon Local Good team for sharing this valuable opportunity with NFRA members, and thank you to all members who shared updates, resources, and successes.
Meetings like this highlight the strength of the NFRA community: organizations across the country working together, sharing solutions, and building a stronger, more connected edible food recovery ecosystem.
Disclaimer: This meeting was recorded via Zoom, and this news post is based on both the recording and notes taken during the meeting. If you notice any errors or omissions, please let us know and we'll be happy to update it accordingly.
We look forward to continuing these conversations and collaborations at future NFRA Member Meetings.
