Stop Food Waste Day is an awareness day to educate and promote change surrounding the global food waste epidemic we are currently facing. Globally, 33 percent of all food produced is wasted every year. If 25 percent of the food wasted annually was saved, it could feed an estimated 870 million hungry people. The consequences of wasted food causes higher greenhouse gas emissions, increases cost of foods, and contributes to world hunger. In the past five years, there has been an increase in nonprofit organizations focusing on eliminating food waste and redistributing prepared foods from restaurants to shelters and food pantries.

Charlotte has one of those nonprofits working towards eliminating food waste. In December 2018, Food Connection, an Asheville-based organization, started a Charlotte chapter. The organization rescues freshly prepared meals to reduce food waste and feed the hungry. Food Connection partners with restaurants, caterers, and institutions to pick up their surplus and deliver it to nonprofits that feed the hungry.

“Since December, the Charlotte chapter has rescued 4,500 pounds of food and kept it out of a landfill,” says Kim Aprill of Food Connection.

The Charlotte chapter currently partners with Johnson and Wales University, Queen’s University, Belmont Abbey College, and City Barbecue as food donors. Recipient partners are The Salvation Army Center of Hope, Supportive Housing Communities, The Relatives, Safe Alliance, Camille’s House, and Catawba Heights Baptist Church. Additional support partners include Charlotte Rescue Mission, Town Brewing, SHARE Charlotte, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council.

To become a food donor partner, there is an application with policy and procedures to determine if a potential donor qualifies. Once approved, Food Connection begins working with the donor right away. Interested donors can learn more here. Food Connection also has resources for at-home ways to reduce food waste and opportunities for individuals to volunteer and help with deliveries.  –Justin Burke-Samson

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