Grace, lovingly known as Dr. Gee, is someone whose warmth instantly fills a room. With a heart for helping others and a passion for creating positive change, she has been an important part of Freedom Church for the past six years. For the last four years, she has also played a vital role in their Retail Rescue program, a partnership with Great Plains Food Bank that helps ensure good food is put to good use rather than wasted.
Originally from West Africa, Grace lived in Indiana before making Grand Forks her home with her husband. Today, she works at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine in Indigenous Health while also dedicating her time and energy to serving her community through Retail Rescue.
Retail Rescue connects local grocery stores with Great Plains Food Bank partners to recover fresh, safe, and nutritious food that can no longer be sold but is still perfectly good to eat. Instead of ending up in a landfill, these items—including produce, dairy, meat, bakery products, and other grocery staples—are distributed to neighbors experiencing food insecurity. The program not only helps provide nourishing food to families but also reduces food waste and strengthens communities.
Grace especially loves the name of the program.
“It sounds like a hero. But most of this could have potentially gone into the trash. It’s such a blessing.”
She believes that while local efforts like Retail Rescue are making a meaningful difference, larger systemic changes are needed to address food waste.
“I would just like to encourage funders, lawmakers, policy makers, or anybody who can enforce rules that stop food from being wasted. That would be fantastic.”
With compassionate leaders like Grace, we’re reminded that every rescued meal represents more than food. It represents stewardship, community, and the belief that together, we can build a future where good food nourishes people, not waste bins.