July 17 (Day 139) The 3 Rs: Rescue, Re-use, Recycle

Today's post highlights an organization that is doing awesome work in Arkansas. This program can serve as an inspiration to all of us.  If you are able to help this program, please do! Maybe someone out there who is reading this will be inspired to replicate this program in their area. 

Established in 1989, Potluck Food Rescue is on a mission is to alleviate hunger by bridging the gap between excess food and the hungry.  Potluck was founded on the uncomplicated yet visionary concept that excess food should be put to good use by rescuing, re-using and recycling it to help feed someone who is hungry rather than have it go to waste.

In 2009, the organization rescued over 4.5 million pounds of a wide variety of food from restaurants, hospitals, caterers, farmers, farmer’s markets, corporate cafeterias, specialty food stores, bakeries, dairies, schools, wholesalers and more.

Food is distributed free of charge to a broad, diverse and rapidly growing network of nonprofit community food programs that include: KIDS’ PANTRY sites serving children at-risk, soup kitchens, day centers for seniors and veterans, homeless shelters, women’s emergency shelters and food pantries.

When there’s good food that’s going unused – rescuing it so it can be put into the hand of those who need it the most makes good sense. Potluck is proof that the smart idea of food rescue can be transformed into a fully-functioning and efficient operation that helps feed Arkansans at-risk.


Hunger in Arkansas

One in Six
One in six of our neighbors live below the poverty line and struggles to make ends meet and provide enough food for their family.
One in Four
One in four children in Arkansas does not get enough to eat in order to sustain their growth and development.  Arkansas’ childhood poverty rate is 26% - compared to the national average of 18%.


There is a Demand
Potluck agencies report a 44% increase in the number of individuals they serve.
The fastest growing populations of individuals seeking some form of emergency food assistance are single mothers with children, working two-parent households and senior citizens.

There is a Supply

More than 100,000 pounds of good, wholesome food is discarded daily in Pulaski County.


Rescuing excess food to feed the hungry is logical, practical – and the right thing to do.


 
 
Get Involved:
 
Donate to Potluck Food Rescue.
 
Become a Food Donor.
 
 
Source:  Potluck Food Rescue