This is A Sustainable Mind, Episode 31.

Keep it simple.

Whether you're saving forests or you're saving animals or you're doing work around climate

change, it's about the simplicity of your message and just keep your eye on that target.

Welcome to A Sustainable Mind, where we delve into the minds behind today's most impactful

environmental campaigns, organizations, and startups, inspiring the environmental changemakers

of tomorrow.

I'm your host, Marjorie Alexander. Today I am so thrilled to be speaking with

Rick Namais, founder of Food Forward, an organization that is committed to helping

end hunger in Southern California, one box of produce at a time. Each and every month,

hundreds of Food Forward volunteers gather at

farmers markets and in backyards to collect fruit and veggies, which are then distributed to

non-profit organizations, families, and individuals in need. Rick, welcome to the show.

Thank you. So I am so happy to have you joining us today.

I had the pleasure of volunteering with Food for just a few weeks ago at the Melrose Place Farmer's Market here in Los Angeles.

And it was a wonderful experience.

But before we get into that, I would love to go over a little bit of how the environment and environmental sustainability played a part in your childhood and you're growing up.

Well, thanks, Marjor. I appreciate the interest in food forward and for having me on the show.

I was a child of, well, I won't date myself, but I was a child when we kind of began newspaper and the very,

very beginning of bottle recycling.

And there was something about this kind of school or community mentality, pooling, again,

resources that would otherwise seem like a waste that you would just throw out and bring them

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