Photographer: Madeleine HordinskiWomen of Appalachia Project Executive Director Kari Gunter-Seymour presented the 2019 WOAP Appalachian Advocate Award to Athens Food Rescue Executive Director Teresa Curtiss.

Women of Appalachia Project Executive Director Kari Gunter-Seymour presented the 2019 WOAP Appalachian Advocate Award to Athens Food Rescue Executive Director Teresa Curtiss on Saturday, March 23.

The award was presented during the WOAP 10th Anniversary Gala, an event sponsored by the Ohio University Multicultural Center.

The Gala is a juried presentation of poetry, story and song that showcased 20 Appalachian spoken word women artists from seven states throughout Appalachia and 35 WOAP visual fine artists.

The Appalachian Advocate Award is annually given to a woman who has dedicated herself to enhancing the wellbeing of Appalachian culture, Appalachian women’s health, Appalachian families or Appalachian land issues.

Curtiss is one of the founders of Athens Food Rescue, which has volunteers pick up excess food from area restaurants and other sources and redistribute it to hundreds of people in need. These efforts include residents of Athens’ homeless and domestic-violence shelters.  

“WOAP is proud to lift up women such as Teresa Curtiss,” said Gunter-Seymour. “Women who often go unsung as they go about their work with passion and purpose, knowing what they do is truly for the good of all. I personally am extra proud because she is a member of our very own community here in Athens, Ohio.” 

AFR aims to bridge a gap in our food system by increasing food-waste diversion. This promotes environmental health by reducing solid waste transported to landfills and decreases food insecurity in our region by providing meals to those in need.

To date, AFR has collected more than 83,000 pounds of food, which has helped feed about 1,000 people a week through 16 charities.