2026 Community FEaST
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Sanford Mall, Appalachian State University
BOONE, N.C. — 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 College of Arts and Sciences Sustainability Liaison Carla Ramsdell at ramsdellcs@appstate.edu.
AppalFRESH is seeking individuals and organizations to assist with the event. To volunteer, submit this form.
For more information, visit rieee.appstate.edu/news/community-feast.
Community FEaST is sponsored by the following organizations:
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About Sustainability and Energy Management at App State
Appalachian State University’s leadership in sustainability is known nationally. The university’s holistic, three-branched approach considers sustainability economically, environmentally and equitably in relationship to the planet’s co-inhabitants. The university is an active steward of the state’s interconnected financial, cultural and natural resources and challenges students and others think critically and creatively about sustainability and what it means from the smallest individual action to the most broad-based applications. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate academic degree programs that focus on sustainability. In addition, 100 percent of Appalachian’s academic departments offer at least one sustainability course or course that includes sustainability, and all students graduate from programs that have adopted at least one sustainability learning outcome. Learn more about Sustainability and Energy Management at App State
About the Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics
Since 2008, Appalachian State University’s Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics (RIEEE) has fostered interdisciplinary research on the environment, energy, and economics, especially the areas in which these subjects intersect. The institute serves as an umbrella organization for three research centers: the Appalachian Energy Center, Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis, and Southern Appalachian Environmental Research and Education Center. Additionally, the institute manages and supports App State’s student-led solar vehicle team, Team Sunergy — an exemplary model of the integrative and experiential student learning, leadership and innovation opportunities the institute seeks to foster at App State. Learn more about RIEEE
Outdoor community event with diverse guests dining at long tables, surrounded by art sculptures, greenery, and warm sunlight.
Students, faculty, staff, and community members gather around the table on Sanford Mall at the 2025 Community FEaST. Photo by Chase Reynolds