The work of a Pella High alum continues to make a national impact.

Maria Rose Belding is the executive director of the Matching Excess And Needs for Stability (MEANS) Database, and received the Dewey Winburne Community Service Award at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, TX this past week.

Belding also spoke on a panel with the DC Central Kitchen, World Central Kitchen, and the U.S. Chamber Foundation.

She tells KNIA/KRLS News the conversation about making food more efficient at multiple levels is just starting.

Belding encourages those at the local level to start working towards solutions as well.

The MEANS Database is a nonprofit online communications platform for emergency feeding systems and their donors in 43 states.