{"id":118,"date":"2024-12-18T11:48:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T16:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/?page_id=118"},"modified":"2026-05-14T10:21:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T14:21:07","slug":"connect-with-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/connect-with-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Connect With Us"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-hero-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-hero   cl-has-accessibility-controls\"><div class=\"cl-hero-proper\"><div class=\"overlay\"><div class=\"block\"><h1>Connect With Us<\/h1><\/div><\/div><div class=\"still\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/20210628_Salerno_URI_VenturiniMissimer-0004_edited.jpg);\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-controls-container\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-controls\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-icon\" title=\"Accessibility controls\">Accessibility controls<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control cl-accessibility-motion-control cl-accessibility-control-hidden\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-default\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Pause motion\">Pause motion<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Motion: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">On<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-alternate\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Play motion\">Play motion<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Motion: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">Off<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control cl-accessibility-contrast-control\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-default\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Increase text contrast\">Increase text contrast<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Contrast: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">Standard<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-alternate\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Reset text contrast\">Reset text contrast<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Contrast: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">High<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-system-setting\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-toggle\" title=\"Apply my preferences site-wide\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-toggle-label\">Apply site-wide<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"uri-people-tool cl-tiles halves\"><div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"524\" height=\"699\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/IMG_2189-rotated.jpg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"A smiling woman with dark hair wearing a decorative blue and white patterned shirt holds a fresh red apple in her hands while standing outdoors. Behind her is a scenic waterside setting with lush green trees, calm water, and driftwood along the shoreline.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/IMG_2189-rotated.jpg 524w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/IMG_2189-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/IMG_2189-364x486.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/IMG_2189-500x667.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 524px) 100vw, 524px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\">Vanessa Venturini<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">FRRI Co-Founder and Program Leader Cooperative Extension<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\"> Mallon Outreach Center<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-misc\"><span class=\"p-tel\">(401)874-2900<\/span> <br> <a class=\"u-email\" href=\"mailto:vanessa@uri.edu\">vanessa@uri.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"444\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/Amanda2019-e1573868232435.jpg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"Professional headshot of a smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a white turtleneck and dark navy blazer, photographed against a blurred ocean and waves in the background.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/Amanda2019-e1573868232435.jpg 444w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/Amanda2019-e1573868232435-300x296.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/Amanda2019-e1573868232435-364x359.jpg 364w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\">Amanda Missimer<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">Clinical Associate Professor<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\">Department of Nutrition, Cooperative Extension<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-misc\"><span class=\"p-tel\">Fogarty Hall, Rm 219<\/span> <br> <a class=\"u-email\" href=\"mailto:amanda_missimer@uri.edu\">amanda_missimer@uri.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News and events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"display-posts-listing\"><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.providencejournal.com\/story\/news\/local\/2026\/04\/13\/knife-class-university-of-rhode-island-teaches-basics-about-technique-and-reducing-food-waste\/89487648007\/?gnt-cfr=1&#038;gca-cat=p&#038;gca-uir=false&#038;gca-epti=z114024p002150l004450c002150u113128e007600v114024&#038;gca-ft=66&#038;gca-ds=sophi\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"148\" height=\"148\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/download.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Logo of the providence Journal\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.providencejournal.com\/story\/news\/local\/2026\/04\/13\/knife-class-university-of-rhode-island-teaches-basics-about-technique-and-reducing-food-waste\/89487648007\/?gnt-cfr=1&#038;gca-cat=p&#038;gca-uir=false&#038;gca-epti=z114024p002150l004450c002150u113128e007600v114024&#038;gca-ft=66&#038;gca-ds=sophi\">The Providence Journal: URI Knife Night &#8211; Learning to chop, sharpen &#8230; and cut food waste<\/a> <span class=\"date\">April 13, 2026<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">In a classroom with microwaves and sinks, ranges and ovens and one big science lab island, Sam Burgess shows off the chef's knife his company had forged by hand in China, before putting his whetstone in a pan of water.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2026\/03\/yes-chef-learn-how-to-cut-down-on-food-waste-at-basic-knife-skills-class\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/preferred-teaching-knives-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"2 men in a kitchen cooking with knives in the side\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/preferred-teaching-knives-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/preferred-teaching-knives-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2026\/03\/yes-chef-learn-how-to-cut-down-on-food-waste-at-basic-knife-skills-class\/\">Food Recovery for RI\u2019s \u2018Basic Knife Skills Class\u2019 with Class of \u201824\u2019s Chef Sam Burgess<\/a> <span class=\"date\">March 24, 2026<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Chef Sam Burgess, a graduate of the University of Rhode Island Food Recovery for Rhode Island program, will show attendees the ropes of knife safety, cuts, and sharpening in a Cooperative Extension one-night \u201cBasic Knife Skills Class\u201d <\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/issues\/spring-2026\/small-change-big-impact\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/sp26_foodwaste_hero-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"logo of From Scraps to Systems Change\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/sp26_foodwaste_hero-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/sp26_foodwaste_hero-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/issues\/spring-2026\/small-change-big-impact\/\">Small Change, Big Impact \u2013 University of Rhode Island Magazine<\/a> <span class=\"date\">February 24, 2026<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">On an ordinary afternoon in URI\u2019s Butterfield Dining Hall, silverware clatters over the hum of conversation, and the aroma of freshly cooked food drifts through the air. But tucked away at the dish return station, something new is taking place: Students pause for a moment before rushing off to class, scraping their leftovers into bright yellow bins instead of tossing them in the trash.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/btown.buzzsprout.com\/163601\/episodes\/17514352-dara-benno-talks-food-recovery-in-rhode-island\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/7tng3ba0jptig4vdflv894ttsze7-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Picture of Bill Bartholomew\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/7tng3ba0jptig4vdflv894ttsze7-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/7tng3ba0jptig4vdflv894ttsze7-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/7tng3ba0jptig4vdflv894ttsze7-364x364.jpeg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/7tng3ba0jptig4vdflv894ttsze7-500x500.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/7tng3ba0jptig4vdflv894ttsze7.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/btown.buzzsprout.com\/163601\/episodes\/17514352-dara-benno-talks-food-recovery-in-rhode-island\">Dara Benno Talks Food Recovery in Rhode Island<\/a> <span class=\"date\">July 24, 2025<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Bill Bartholomew welcomes Dara Benno, an artist and Providence-based designer focused on addressing critical challenges, including environmental issues; she is also a Strategic Design + Research Fellow at RISD. <\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2025\/06\/uri-cooperative-extension-program-aims-to-rescue-and-recycle-food-by-changing-the-way-rhode-islanders-interact-with-it\/\">URI Cooperative Extension program aims to rescue and recycle food by changing the way Rhode Islanders interact with it<\/a> <span class=\"date\">June 13, 2025<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 June 11, 2025 \u2013 Applications are open for Food Recovery for Rhode Island at the University of Rhode Island (FRRI), a community education program for Rhode Islanders offered through URI Cooperative Extension. The six-week course includes online coursework and field experiences that can be completed at participants\u2019 convenience.<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/biden-administration-awards-ri-food-policy-council-18-7m-to-for-food-waste-project\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/files-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"stack of papers in folders\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/files-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/files-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/files-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/files-364x364.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/files-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/files.jpg 848w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/biden-administration-awards-ri-food-policy-council-18-7m-to-for-food-waste-project\/\">Biden Administration Awards RI Food Policy Council $18.7M to for Food Waste Project<\/a> <span class=\"date\">December 18, 2024<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">With just over 30 days left, the Biden administration has awarded The Rhode Island Food Policy Council (RIFPC)  \u201ca transformational $18.7M grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program.\u201d<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/epa-awards-r-i-nonprofit-nearly-19-million-to-reduce-food-waste-over-next-three-years\/\">EPA awards R.I. nonprofit nearly $19 million to reduce food waste over next three years<\/a> <span class=\"date\">December 18, 2024<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">The Rhode Island Food Policy Council program is expected to train and provide stipends\nfor 500 residents, and keep more than 11,000 tons of food waste out of landfills through\ndonation and composting<\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/course-applications-open-for-food-recovery-for-rhode-island\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/preferred-food-recovery-canning-1280x960-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Six glass mason jars with metal screw-top lids containing homemade pickled vegetables arranged on a dark speckled countertop in a kitchen. The jars display colorful preserved vegetables including red peppers, green peppers, and mustard seeds in golden-amber brine, with kitchen cabinets and appliances visible blurred in the background.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/preferred-food-recovery-canning-1280x960-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2319\/preferred-food-recovery-canning-1280x960-1-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/course-applications-open-for-food-recovery-for-rhode-island\/\">Course applications open for Food Recovery for Rhode Island<\/a> <span class=\"date\">July 9, 2024<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 July 9, 2024 \u2013 The typical Rhode Islander\u2019s food journey looks like this: shop, store, prepare, discard. Maybe, if they have the skills or know-how, a local consumer might preserve and\/or compost their food.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>News and events<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5144,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-118","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5144"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/118\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":260,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/118\/revisions\/260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodrecovery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}