Cambridge Resident Joins Food For Free's Board of Directors

CAMBRIDGE, Mass – Food For Free, the leading food rescue and distribution organization in Eastern Massachusetts, has appointed Gao-Wen Shao to the nonprofit’s Board of Directors. Board members of the organization leverage their expertise and connections to advance the Food For Free’s work to minimize food waste and increase food security in the community.

Through a combination of food program support and direct service offerings, Food For Free uses partnerships, innovation and logistics to strengthen the community food system. The organization rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and creates new distribution channels to reach underserved populations in communities across the region. The nonprofit is a proud member of the Make Hunger History Coalition, the first of its kind to convene policymakers, community leaders, philanthropists, business leaders, service providers and people with lived experience with food insecurity to permanently solve hunger in Massachusetts.

“Food insecurity isn’t just a lack of access to food, it’s a lack of access to nutrition,” says Jessica Cantin, Food For Free CEO. “Food waste and food security go hand in hand. They can form a solution together. Gao will help guide Food For Free to continue to provide reliable access to fresh and nutritious food to Eastern Massachusetts communities.”

Shao, a Cambridge resident, started volunteering with Food For Free in 2020 standing outside and distributing bagged lunches at local schools during the height of the pandemic. She realized that when youth were sent home from school, many lost free and reduced-price lunches, and some might have no access to food at home at all. Since then, Shao has volunteered through a variety of the nonprofit’s programs, including Healthy Eats, Just Eats, Heat-n-Eats, and School Markets, with her son and daughter. She enjoys working with a group of like-minded and deeply committed people during her volunteer shifts and helping the community. This fall, Shao deepened her engagement with Food For Free by accepting an appointment to become a member of the nonprofit’s Board of Directors.

Before retiring from a full-time career in 2023, Gao worked in financial services and management consulting at Fidelity Investments, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and two consulting firms. She began her career as a commercial lender at Bank of New England/Fleet Bank. In addition to Food For Free, Gao is a Board Member and Treasurer for the Maria L. Baldwin Community Center in Cambridge. She is also active in many other organizations across Cambridge, most of which are focused on human services and children’s causes, such as Cambridge Literacy Program and The Children’s Clothing Exchange. Shao has held numerous local and national alumni leadership roles for Wesleyan University. She has volunteered for local alumni and graduating class activities, served on national alumni committees, and received a Wesleyan University Service Award.

“The Cambridge and Somerville communities have huge economic ranges,” says Shao. “A lot of people don’t realize how much of an issue it is. You can walk down the street and not know that someone is food insecure. Individuals, municipalities, foundations, and others need to keep supporting food pantries and like-minded organizations. When at Food For Free School Markets, seeing the long lines of people lined up early is very eye-opening. Across Cambridge, I’ve organized clothing and luggage drives, packed groceries at a food bank, distributed school lunches during COVID, fundraised for nonprofits, and helped immigrants with resumes and job applications. I appreciate how Food For Free works to reduce food waste in the community while feeding people. There’s still a great need.”

Food For Free Board of Directors serve for 4 years. Shao will work alongside 12 other board members who are committed to serving the nonprofit to help to advance the nonprofit’s mission, support strategic goals, and provide governance to the organization.

Founded in 1981 as one of the nation’s first food rescue organizations, Food For Free now serves more than 132,000 Massachusetts residents facing food insecurity and distributes 6.2 million pounds of nutritious fresh and prepared foods annually. For more information, to register to volunteer and to make a donation, visit: www.foodforfree.org.

About Food For Free:

Food For Free is a Cambridge and Somerville-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing eastern Massachusetts with reliable access to fresh and nutritious food. Food For Free accomplishes its mission through food rescue, partnerships with schools, colleges, and community food programs, and our own direct service programs. To learn more, visit us at www.foodforfree.org, or follow Food For Free on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram @foodforfreeorg.