UPDATED: A major hunger-relief organization has announced it is ceasing operations, and in its absence, leaving a local business with a large responsibility.
Food Rescue Collaborative (FRC), which has worked to reduce hunger and fight against food waste in New England and surrounding areas since 2021, has planned to terminate all activities as of June 30, 2026.
Within its five years of operations, FRC launched its Food information Sharing Hub (FISH); a digital platform made to improve coordination and communication across the food rescue ecosystem. Though FRC is closing its doors, FISH will continue to serve local communities, now that it will be managed by Arlington’s own Food Link.
“We could not imagine a better future steward for FISH than Food Link,” wrote the board of FRC in a recent press release. “Their longstanding commitment to food recovery, innovation, and community partnership makes them ideally positioned to guide FISH into its next chapter.”
Food Link, located at 108 Summer St., will manage the collaborative technology tool ensuring it continues to connect organizations, streamline food-sharing opportunities, and help bring food to communities in need, more efficiently and effectively.
The platform prevents food insecurity organizations from relying on endless phone calls and emails; using FISH, organizations can quickly post, locate, and claim food donations, transportation, or storage needs.
“While this marks the close of one chapter, we are proud that the work and relationships built through [FRC] will continue through FISH and we leave knowing that the platform’s future remains grounded in the same collaborative spirit that inspired its creation,” wrote the FRC board.
“Taking on [FISH] is a natural next step for Food Link,” wrote Rachel Albert, executive director of Food Link.
“FISH is a real-time inventory system that lets organizations see what food is available and claim what they can use. After the worst of the pandemic supply disruptions passed, FISH became mostly dormant. When Food Link expanded into pallet-scale food rescue, we reactivated FISH to support our sourcing of large quantities of food for the broader community.”
“This may sound simple, but the new collaborations that FISH is enabling have been a game-changer for the system as a whole. It means fewer frantic calls, less duplication, and more good food moving quickly to people before it goes bad,” Albert said.
“Food Link is proud to keep building on the collaboration FRC helped foster, and grateful to the other food recovery organizations who have leaned into the collaboration.”
This news item, published on May 30, 2026, was written using information provided by Food Rescue Collaborative and was updated.
