Every Day Should Be Earth Day – Volunteering with Food Rescue US Helps
By Jenifer Howard
A couple weeks ago, the world observed Earth Day with tree plantings, talks on the environment, photo exhibitions, proclamations and tips on everyday actions individuals can undertake to be friendlier to our environment. In Greenwich, First Selectman Fred Camillo issued an Earth Day proclamation and spoke about actions the Town has undertaken in recent years including a revamped recycling program, textile recycling and food scraps program. But did you know that a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions is food waste? Local Fairfield County-based nonprofit Food Rescue US is helping solve that issue.
By fighting hunger, Food Rescue US is helping the planet. Americans generate more food waste than any other country – and nearly 40 percent of food waste is healthy fresh fruits and vegetables. According to Project Drawdown, reducing food waste by 50 percent by 2050 will result in 26.2 gigaton of avoided CO2e – this is largely because food waste that ends up in landfills decomposes and releases carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4).
Food Rescue US was founded in 2011 in Fairfield County and today has more than 20 sites across the U.S. The nonprofit organization uses an app to engage volunteers to transfer fresh food surplus from local businesses, restaurants and schools to social service agencies that need the food the most. Nationwide, Food Rescue US has provided 90 million meals and kept 116 million pounds out of landfills. Locally in Fairfield County, just last year more than five million meals were saved and delivered to those who needed the food the most! Five million meals!! Wow!! More than 240 food donors in Greenwich partner with Food Rescue US, including some favorites like Aux Delices, COBS Bread, Eagle Hill School, Garden Catering, Kings, Mike’s Organic, Raphael’s Bakery, Something Natural Bakery, Stop & Shop, Upper Crust Bagel Company, Whole Foods and many more. Excess food is picked up by Food Rescue US volunteers and delivered to more than 164 social service agencies – often just down the street from the donor – it takes on average 30-45 minutes to complete a rescue. Some of the Greenwich agencies who receive food on a regular basis are: Boys & Girls Club, CCI Greenwich, Jewish Family Services, Kids in Crisis and Neighbor to Neighbor. The organization has 2,600 volunteers in Fairfield County with 240 registered Greenwich residents.
I was first introduced to Food Rescue US by my neighbor and friend Danielle Blaine. Danielle started donating her time to the organization more than ten years ago as a way to volunteer with her children and give back to the community. Food Rescue US’ CEO is Carol Shattuck of Old Greenwich, so the organization’s roots run deep in Greenwich. Since that time, Danielle has shared this incredible community service with her friends and throughout lower Fairfield County. So many of us have gotten involved!
Danielle’s involvement with the organization grew and in February 2020, right when the COVID pandemic started, she became the Fairfield County site director. The need for food to support local families skyrocketed during 2020 and has remained in high demand since. Danielle and her incredible volunteers have worked tirelessly to connect food donors with volunteers and receiving agencies to make sure good, healthy and delicious food gets to those who need it the most. This last holiday season, Rob Mathes, Emmy award-winning and Grammy nominated musician and Greenwich resident, was so impressed with Food Rescue US’ work, he dedicated his annual holiday concert to Food Rescue US Fairfield County – stay tuned for more on this relationship later this year!
Since we should treat every day like Earth Day, let’s encourage each other to be more aware of food waste, our actions and things we can do as individuals and as families to help. Doing something simple but with a lot of impact, like signing up to be a Food Rescue US volunteer, can make a big difference. Sign up today at foodrescue.us and start rescuing!
And mark your calendar for these upcoming nonprofit events:
May 4: Greenwich Food System Forum – register at thefoodshednetwork.org.
May 7: #ReThink Waste Fair – learn more at wastefreegreenwich.org.
May 7: 5th Annual Walk to End Epilepsy – register at epilepsyct.com/events/walk/registration.
May 16: 6th Annual Petretti Golf Outing – register at swimacrossamerica.org/fc.
June 25: Swim Across America Fairfield County – register at swimacrossamerica.org/fc and make waves to fight cancer. Supports Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy.
