Since its creation in 2002, the Grocery Rescue program has recovered 93,301,039 pounds of food from grocery stores across Western Washington. See how that number breaks down…
No one likes the idea of good food going to waste, especially those of us working to stop hunger. The bad news is that 40% of the food produced in the United States is going to waste every year. The good news is that Food Lifeline is finding creative solutions to redirect this surplus of wholesome food out of the waste stream and to those in need. Whether it’s crooked carrots or yogurt approaching its sell-by-date, our Grocery Rescue program makes it easy for stores to donate food instead of throwing it way.
Since its creation in 2002, the Grocery Rescue program has recovered 93,301,039 pounds of food from grocery stores across Western Washington. With a statistic that large, it might be hard to fathom so we created this infographic to help break it down into more familiar numbers:
Grocery Rescue continues expansion
But the work of Grocery Rescue doesn’t stop after 93 million pounds. Food Lifeline continues to expand this program and just this month launched a new partnership between a Cash & Carry store in Kelso, WA and Help Warehouse. Help Warehouse, a program of Lower Columbia Community Action Program (CAP), has been the food distribution center for food banks in the Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties since 1982. Help Warehouse volunteers will pick up the food from Cash & Carry on Tuesdays and Fridays.
“This is a really efficient system. We can pick up the food from the store and usually have it out to the food banks within a day. We are tremendously grateful for Food Lifeline’s leadership in these efforts and to the Fred Meyer, Walmart, and Cash & Carry managers for helping feed low income families in our community.”
Lisa Chavez, Help Warehouse Program Manager
