We are so sad to share the devastating news that our Food Hub driver, Ward Ogden, passed away on December 28th while hiking with his beloved wife, Maria, in Point Reyes, California.

While Ward has been at Food Connects for just over a year, he was deeply involved in our communities and social and climate justice for many years, and many of us knew him outside of work in varying capacities. Ward was a fierce environmental activist & used his own handtruck for deliveries, which was adorned with a sticker that read “system change, not climate change.”

Ward was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and a friend to many. He was a naturally friendly and curious person, often engaging in meaningful conversations with people he had only just met. Ward developed meaningful relationships with the customers and vendors along his weekly delivery routes. Customers such as The Village Roost have previously told us, "Ward is great! We enjoy his visits when he delivers every Friday to us!" Ward was personally committed to serving those accounts and to the mission of Food Connects.

Over the coming weeks, we will take some time as an organization to process this news as the Ogden family takes the time and space they need to navigate next steps, of which there are many.

All of us at Food Connects will miss Ward terribly and will keep his spirit in our minds and hearts, knowing our work is a memorial and tribute to the man we knew and loved.