Ever heard the term food rescue? It’s one that’s near and dear to us here at Philabundance. In fact, we got our start first as a food rescue organization and grew into what we are today.

Philabundance originally started as a small food rescue program operating out of a Subaru more than 40 years ago. Our founder saw food going to waste while people were going hungry.

It wasn’t right and it didn’t make sense, so she started reducing food waste by rescuing food. Fast forward and we’re the food charity we are today, operating a 9-county service area that impacts millions of people.

But let’s back up a second–what’s meant by the term food rescue in the first place and what’s its role with respect to charity? Here’s what you should know.

What Does Food Rescue Mean?

Food rescue, in a nutshell, refers to the operations that help prevent food from going to waste. In the United States, it’s estimated that 40% of all food goes to waste.

In fact, U.S, retail stores alone generate about 16 billion pounds of food waste annually. Granted, some of this has to do with storage and handling, but some of it is also due to regulations that require food to be discarded, even if that food is perfectly fit for human consumption.

For our part, we’re helping to make sure that less of the food that can still be eaten gets wasted.

How Does It Work?

Our food rescue program, Retail Rescue, revolves around a cooperation with more than 400 grocery stores and 200 food industry businesses. Among these are Starbucks and the Philadelphia International Airport.

When our partners have food that must be discarded – but is otherwise fit and safe for human consumption – theydonate it to us and we turn it around to help end food insecurity in our area.

What Do Retailers Do with Expired/Leftover Food?

This is the crux of the matter: retailers and others in the food industry often have no choice but to discard food once it reaches a “best by” or expiration date. This is one of the things that makes food rescue operations so critical. Without them, that food would be thrown away and lost forever – which is a terrible shame considering 1 in 6 people in our service area is a victim of food insecurity.

How Much Food Gets Wasted Annually?

It’s estimated that 40% of the food in the United States gets wasted each year, much of it due to burdensome regulations that require retailers and others in the food service industry to throw away perfectly good food.

The Impact of Our Food Rescue Program

Don’t underestimate the impact of an effective food rescue program such as the Philabundance Retail Rescue program.

In 2021, we rescued more than 6.6 million pounds of food from our food industry partners alone, and in 2022, we distributed upwards of 16 million pounds through our Retail Rescue Program.

Remember, this food would have likely ended up in a landfill if not for rescue operations like these that help prevent food loss!

Where Can I Donate Food?

You can donate food at a food donation center in your area. If you’re in our service area and you’re reading this, Philabundance would be more than happy to partner with you to end food insecurity!

There are multiple ways to donate, too, even for a one-time donor. If you’re in Philadelphia, we’ll even come get it (as long as it’s under 1,000 pounds).

Otherwise, you can schedule a delivery at our warehouse or work with one of our community partners (there are hundreds of them) to handle the donation.

How Do I Reduce Food Waste at Home?

Unfortunately, while retailers and others in food service are likely accountable for the majority of food waste in America, consumers are also in part responsible.

There are things you can do to help reduce food waste, though. For instance, you can:

• Plan meals, and buy only what you need. Don’t cook more than you expect to, and rather than putting food in the fridge for later, freeze it so it won’t go bad.
• Keep your food organized. Sometimes food expires just because you don’t know what you have!
• Don’t throw it out just because it’s past the best-by date. That might be just a guideline.
• Set your fridge at the right temperature to minimize spoilage, between 34℉ to 38℉.
• Recycle scraps by making broth or soup; you can also compost food if it has truly gone bad, rather than throwing it out.
• Rather than throwing it away, reduce waste by giving it to a food donation center.

Here to Find a Food Donation Center?

If you landed here because you need help finding a food donation center, we can help. Check out our food donation page for more information on food donation, both for one-time donors and for larger organizations looking to reduce food waste.