In the Driver's Seat: Abby Hurd
Get to know Abby Hurd in this Q&A. Abby is among Lovin’ Spoonfuls’ Food Rescue Coordinators (FRCs) working in our Greater Boston region.
u003cstrongu003eHow long have you been in your current role? u003c/strongu003e
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eI have been an FRC for two years.
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eu003cstrongu003eWhat’s the most gratifying part of your job? u003c/strongu003e
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eThe most gratifying part is being able to deliver a truckload of food to my various partners each day, knowing that it is all going to great use, as well as the interactions I have with the people along my route. I enjoy that the people at the stores I go to are excited that the food they donate is going to feed people. They often ask where I deliver it and are curious about how it will be used, whether it’s going to be cooked as part of a communal meal or given out at a pantry. I enjoy getting to interact with my beneficiary partners each day and learning more about them. I am continuously amazed by everything they do to ensure the food we deliver gets to those who need it.
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eu003cstrongu003eWhat’s a myth about food reu003c/strongu003escue (or rescued food) that you’du003cstrongu003e like to bust? u003c/strongu003e
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eA myth/misunderstanding I’d like to bust is that the people and organizations who rely on rescued food will take anything and everything. This isn’t true. As Food Rescue Coordinators, we check donations for quality and leave food behind if it’s rotten or way past its time to be eaten. If food looks like something you wouldn’t feel safe eating yourself or wouldn’t want to feed to your friends or family, then it shouldn’t be donated.
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eu003cstrongu003eWhat’s a strategy you use to stay safe (or patient) behind the wheel? u003c/strongu003e
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eI usually don’t have too much trouble staying patient on the road. I listen to podcasts and music which is a good way to pass the time when stuck in traffic.
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eu003cstrongu003eTell us about one partner – vendor or nonprofit – that inspires you. How come? u003c/strongu003e
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eI always come back to this beneficiary, but I would say Nansee and Marlon at u003ca href=u0022https://www.lifeboatboston.org/u0022u003eLifeboat Boston Food Pantryu003c/au003e. Most days I show up with a full truck of food. They welcome as much food as we can bring them and tirelessly work to distribute all of it, even if it is just the two of them that day. Not only do they operate a pantry, but they also work to stock community fridges around the city.
What’s the u003cstrongu003emu003c/strongu003eost u003cstrongu003ewonderful thing you rescued recentlyu003c/strongu003e?
The majority of my rescues are healthy, but I have a major sweet tooth, so I was really excited to get these boxes of candy (see above) from Stop u0026amp; Shop in Allston. I have a beneficiary partner in Woburn whose guests love candy as much as I do, so it was great to be able to bring it to them.
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eu003cstrongu003eIf you weren’t a Food Rescue Coordinator, what would you be doing instead? u003c/strongu003e
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eI would have my own farm/garden and would also try to learn to play as many musical instruments as I could.
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eu003cstrongu003eTell us one little-known fact about you.u003c/strongu003e
u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eI can juggle!
Learn more about Abby Hurd and the other members of Team Lovin’ on our staff page.