AppalFRESH, the Appalachian Food Research for Equity, Sustainability, and Health Collaborative, invites students, faculty, staff, and community members to gather around the table to enjoy free food, live music, and conversations about the importance of a resilient, equitable food system during the 2026 Community FEaST (Food Engagement and Story Telling).

The event — centered on the theme of "Connection through Food" — is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. on Sanford Mall.

To minimize waste, attendees are asked to bring their own plates, utensils, and water bottles. App State Sustainability and Energy Management invites attendees to visit their table at the FEaST for a free, reusable utensil and bandana bundle. Quantities are limited, so stop by early.

Additionally, attendees can support the App State community by bringing non-perishable goods to this year's FEaST for Sustainability and Energy Management's Mountaineer Food Hub and Food Pantry Network.

Community organizations working in the sustainable food space are invited to set up a table on Sanford Mall during the FEaST. For more information, contact Carla Ramsdell at ramsdellcs@appstate.edu.

AppalFRESH is seeking individuals and organizations to assist with the event. To volunteer, submit this form.

Community FEaST is sponsored by the following organizations:

• Beaver College of Health Sciences

• College of Arts and Sciences

• College of Fine and Applied Arts

• Department of Sustainable Development

• Hayes School of Music

• Office of Research and Innovation

• Reich College of Education

• Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics

• Sustainability and Energy Management

• Walker College of Business

For more information, visit rieee.appstate.edu/news/community-feast or contact FEaST co-organizer Carla Ramsdell, practitioner-in-residence in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and sustainability liaison for the College of Arts and Sciences, at ramsdellcs@appstate.edu.