At Food For Free, we are all about community—building it, serving it, and celebrating the incredible people who make our mission possible. Today, we’re excited to spotlight one of our very own, Amanda Kerstman, who started as a volunteer and now serves as our Associate Manager of Volunteers and Programs. Her journey reminds us of the power of passion and community.
Hunger Action Month: A Time to Reflect and Act
As we highlight Amanda’s story during Hunger Action Month, it’s important to recognize the ongoing fight against food insecurity that 1 in 3 households in Massachusetts face. Hunger Action Month is a nationwide campaign dedicated to spreading awareness and taking action against hunger in our communities. Amanda’s journey is a testament to what can be achieved when we come together to support our neighbors. Whether it’s volunteering time, donating resources, or simply raising awareness, every action counts.
We sat down with Amanda to chat about her experience, what drives her, and why she’s more connected to the Cambridge community now more than ever.
Food For Free: Amanda, let’s start at the beginning. How did you first get involved with Food For Free?
Amanda: It was during the early days of COVID-19 in 2020. I found myself with some extra time and wanted to get involved in the community. I found an opportunity through Boston Cares to work with Boston Public Schools to deliver lunches to students who relied on free school meals while schools were not open for in-person attendance. I would hop on a school bus with a driver, and we’d deliver up to 100 meals in just a few hours. It was a chaotic experience, but I loved it. I noticed, though, that a lot of the food was processed, and I noticed that the students weren’t thrilled with some of it either as they sifted through my deliveries.
When that opportunity ended, I still wanted to help, and I happened to notice a Food For Free truck in Central Square. I Googled you guys, gave you a call, and the next thing I knew, I was delivering food with your Healthy Eats Home Delivery program on Sundays. The food I delivered was so much healthier than what I had seen before, and I loved getting to know the people we served. It was such a great experience that when I was considering a career change, I knew I wanted to work for Food For Free.
Food For Free: So you started volunteering with us in October 2020, and now you’re working here full-time. Can you tell us what your current role involves?
Amanda: Yes! I officially started working at Food For Free in February 2024, and my current role is Associate Manager of Volunteers and Programs. I run our volunteer programs, which is great because I know what it’s like to be a Food For Free volunteer. I also manage our school programs, like setting up School Markets in Cambridge and Somerville and overseeing the Carrot Cards program, which provides funds for students to buy food on the weekends.
What I love most about working here is how connected I’ve become to the community. I’ve lived in Cambridge for four years, but in just six months at Food For Free, I feel more connected than ever. I constantly run into volunteers or partners around town, and it’s like I have a deeper connection with the city and the people in it. We work with so many organizations right here in Cambridge that I’ve passed every day for the past four years, and now when I see their buildings I have people’s faces to put to the names of companies I see. My new home has become much more personable to me as a result.
Amanda Kerstman kicks off a Just Eats corporate volunteer shift with Cambridge Savings Bank employees on April 24, 2024.
Food For Free: That’s amazing! We know you have some pretty fun hobbies and interests. Can you share a bit about what you do outside of work?
Amanda: Sure! I’m an avid runner—I’m gearing up for the Philly Marathon in November, and I ran the Boston Marathon in 2023, which was a big accomplishment for me. I also love reading, especially memoirs that give you insight into other people’s lived experiences. I’ve been a spin instructor for five years, and I work at MIT, so I’m really connected to Cambridge in a lot of ways.
Before all this, I spent ten years as a zookeeper, handling animals like snakes and sloths. I keep art that we made with the animals up on my walls to remind me of the animal friends I’ve had over the years. I still miss the snakes! Fun fact: all snakes can rattle their tails like a rattlesnake as a defense mechanism, even if they aren’t actually rattlesnakes.
Amanda Kerstman holds Dot the snake during her time as a zookeeper at Zoo New England.
Food For Free: What a fascinating background! Now here’s a fun question that we like to ask volunteers—if you could be any vegetable, which would you be and why?
Amanda: I’d have to go with an avocado. I learned early on how to pick the perfect one—when it’s ripe, how long before it’ll be ready, and when to move it to the fridge. It’s like second nature to me. I know avocados as well as I know myself, especially Hass avocados.
Food For Free: We love that! Do you think it’s important for people to feel connected to the food they eat?
Amanda: Absolutely. I think a lot of what we enjoy eating as adults ties back to what our families fed us growing up. Food preferences vary widely, and what I love about Food For Free is that we offer such a diverse range of foods so people have a choice. I’ve noticed that what excites me isn’t always what excites the people we serve. For example, I was thrilled to offer peaches at a School Market recently, but most of our guests that day were way more excited about the okra! It’s those little moments—seeing people’s reactions, hearing what they’re planning to cook—that make me want to ensure we’re always paying attention to what our community needs.
Amanda Kerstman works alongside volunteers to fill Just Eats grocery boxes with healthy food on April 24, 2024.
Food For Free: That’s such a great perspective. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Amanda: I’ve been with Food For Free in some capacity since 2020, and it’s incredible to see how much the organization has grown. For example, when I started as a volunteer, there was no volunteer program. It’s so exciting to see more people recognizing us, even just walking down the street and spotting someone in a Food For Free shirt. We’ve really become a part of the community, and that’s been so rewarding to witness.
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Amanda’s journey from volunteer to employee is a reminder of the impact that passion and community can have on our lives. Her story also serves as an inspiration during Hunger Action Month, a time when we are all called to reflect on how we can contribute to ending hunger in our community. If her story has inspired you, consider joining us as a volunteer (and check out our current job openings, too!). We’d love to have you join our community of dedicated individuals who are helping us fight food insecurity in Eastern Massachusetts. Sign up today: https://foodforfree.org/volunteer/