Dan Flowers named the 2025 Feeding America John van Hengel Fellow

Dan Flowers, president and CEO of Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank  has been named the 2025 John van Hengel Fellow by Feeding America during the organization’s annual conference. Six network members were also recognized for their tremendous impact for people facing hunger in each of their communities, including: Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank , St. Louis Area Foodbank , The Manna Food Project , Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina , Central California Food Bank  and Food Bank of Alaska, Inc .

2025 John van Hengel Fellowship

The award honors a Feeding America partner food bank leader for their commitment to community engagement, innovation, collaboration, inspiring others, building capacity and centering people facing hunger. It was created to honor the late John van Hengel, who developed the concept of food banking in the 1960s. 

Dan Flowers has been dedicated to food banking for nearly 30 years, starting as an agency relations coordinator to now leading the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank as president and CEO for the past 20 years. He has established a deep connection to neighbors and the community along with building strong relationships with corporate, foundation and government partners to expand the food bank’s reach. 

To ensure neighbor voices and perspectives were centered in decision-making, Flowers prioritizes speaking with neighbors through community cookouts, focus groups and conversations. Flowers has championed innovation like online ordering to improve access to food. As an advocate, Flowers served as the chair of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks Board for five years and has been an engaged leader within the Feeding America network.  

“Dan leads by example and brings people together to improve communities and lives. He embodies the qualities of servant leadership upon which the John van Hengel Fellowship Award is modeled,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “By standing shoulder to shoulder with people experiencing food insecurity and building inclusive environments and partnerships, we can make remarkable progress toward ending hunger. Dan’s unifying, hands-on approach reflects this truth and drives incredible impact. I am deeply proud to work beside him in our mission to end hunger for good in America.”

Network Celebrations

• Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was recognized for partnering with community organizations to improve neighbor access and experience. During the pandemic, many of the food bank’s agency partners closed permanently, prompting the food bank to conduct a study of its partner network. The findings revealed that two-thirds of partners lacked a succession plan, and many faced challenges with volunteer engagement and financial stability. In response, the food bank launched the Rise Academy to bring together agency leaders from across eight counties for training with experts in key areas such as fundraising, strategic planning and more. Participants stayed connected after the training, sharing best practices and supporting each other in volunteer recruitment and program expansion.
• St. Louis Area Foodbank was recognized for enhancing food sourcing and sharing through its partnership with Amazon. What began as a conversation with a volunteer evolved into a thoughtful site-level donation program, recovering a range of food and non-food items. By leveraging data and strong agency relationships, the food bank ensured these items reached neighbors in need. As the opportunity grew, the food bank worked in collaboration with Feeding America and Amazon’s national team to share early insights and align with Amazon’s broader strategy for food recovery across fulfillment centers. This coordinated approach has helped inform the continued expansion of donation efforts nationally – demonstrating how local initiatives, when paired with strategic partnership, can create far-reaching impact.
• The Manna Food Project was recognized for breaking down barriers and improving neighbor access and experience. In rural northern Michigan, public transportation is not available, and many people facing hunger cannot reach local food pantries. The team’s eight staff members rallied donors and over 300 volunteers to launch mobile food pantries at senior housing facilities across the region. Residents shared that the outdoor distributions still posed barriers for some with mobility challenges. Manna Food Project acted and converted their mobile pantries to a door-to-door delivery service ensuring all residents could have consistent access to food. Today, volunteers and residents alike look forward to these home visits that not only bring fresh produce and wholesome staples, but also bring cheer, companionship, and a sense of community.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina was recognized for expanding policy advocacy and elevating the voices of people with lived experience. The food bank partnered with residents and community organizations in historically Black neighborhoods to identify ways to support their goals, map community assets and co-create activities that bring the community’s solutions to life. As a result, one community partner now leads a collaborative effort called The Community Leadership Academy that offers residents workshops on community organizing, civic engagement and trauma-informed care while the food bank supports residents with seed funding and bringing their voices to decision-making tables. Graduates and other community members have gone on to lead projects that co-create community-driven, long-term solutions that will foster greater food security for everyone.
• Central California Food Bank was recognized for investing in strong partnerships that increase holistic support and help neighbors thrive. The food bank recognized that access to food could serve as a gateway for neighbors to access other vital services and support when offered in a co-located space called City Center. To implement this vision, the food bank convened over 20 organizations willing to unite under one roof to offer residents services including housing, medical and mental healthcare, and job training. The food bank also launched First Fruits Market at City Center—a human-centered free grocery store where neighbors can select foods aligned with their cultural and dietary preferences. In its first year, the market provided over 1 million pounds of food to more than 30,000 households.
• Food Bank of Alaska, Inc. was recognized for expanding policy advocacy. Remote, rural regions in Alaska face high rates of food insecurity and are home to many Native Alaskan communities. A site-based summer food program is challenging in rural Alaska because of lack of meal sites and local site managers, cultural practices like “fish camp” that children attend for multiple weeks to learn Alaskan traditions and costly, unreliable air cargo flights needed to transport food. The food bank implemented the Meals To You Alaska program, which allows families to have summer meals shipped directly to their homes in flat-rate postage boxes, eliminating the need to visit a meal site. The food bank collaborated with agency partners to advocate for expanding summer meal options in rural Alaska. As a result, summer meal distribution in Alaska has tripled—increasing from 200,000 meals statewide to nearly 600,000 meals through Meals To You Alaska.

“These recipients have shown what we can achieve when we come together with purpose and passion to partner with our neighbors experiencing hunger,” said Babineaux-Fontenot. “Each of the successes, led by six network honorees, are powerful examples of working together with neighbors, staff, volunteers, donors, and partners. When we unite around a shared vision, break down barriers, and expand access to food, we strengthen communities and ensure people experiencing food insecurity are better positioned to thrive.”

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About Feeding America

Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.