Food rescue effort launches Summit County base

by Maddy Holman

Food Rescue US, a national nonprofit based out of Stamford, Connecticut, has made its way to Summit County. The local branch aims to engage community members in food salvage, according to site director and Hudson resident Katie Evans.

The organization is the first of its kind in the area, with existing Ohio locations in Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton. Volunteers support Food Rescue US by collecting fresh, healthy food from businesses that would have otherwise let these products go to waste, Evan said.

According to Food Rescue US, up to 40% of U.S. food supply gets thrown out needlessly. Meanwhile, Feeding America reports that 12.5% of the population in Summit County alone lacks access to enough food for an active, healthy life.  

Using the web-based Food Rescue US app, food rescuers – which volunteers are lovingly referred to as – transfer fresh food surpluses from local businesses to social service agencies serving the food insecure. The national organization currently exists in 23 states across the U.S. with a total 42 sites.

“This offers a unique opportunity that doesn’t currently exist in our area,” Evans added.

Evans is a firm believer in the positive benefits that Food Rescuers can bring to the world, asserting that just a 15% reduction in food waste nationally would reduce climate change and provide enough food for more than 25 million Americans every year. The numbers are backed by Food Rescue US reports, which document that the 152 million meals provided to those in need so far have kept 183 million pounds of food out of landfills and prevented 500,600 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

And, of course, none of this would be possible without the help of over 20,000 volunteers across the nation, she said.

“A food rescuer can sign up for a rescue that fits their schedule, and [it] typically takes less than an hour of their time,” Evans said. “The current network includes local restaurants and grocers, which serve as food donors, and receiving agencies, including food pantries, senior programs, recovery centers and more.”

Onboarding as a volunteer is swift and straightforward, Evans added.

“You simply download the Food Rescue US app to get started, and from there it’s as easy as 1-2-3, really,” she said.

For more information and to get started volunteering, visit foodrescue.us or contact Katie Evans, Akron site director, at katie@foodrescue.us. ∞