PRESS RELEASE –

FIGHTING FOOD WASTE THROUGH GROCERY RESCUE

Feeding America and FISH of Westminster are dedicated to fighting food waste. 

America has more than enough food for everyone to eat. But each year, billions of pounds of perfectly good food go to waste. Meanwhile, 38 million face hunger in the United States.

As the country’s largest food rescue organization, Feeding America partners with food manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants, and farmers to rescue food and deliver it to food pantries – such as Westminster Presbyterian Church FISH Food Pantry/FISH of Westminster – serving our neighbors.

What is food waste?  Food waste is safe, high-quality food that is thrown away rather than eaten. Food waste occurs for a variety of reasons, including:

• Uneaten food that is thrown out at homes, stores, and restaurants.
• Crops left in fields because of low crop prices or too many of the same crops being available
• Problems during the manufacturing and transportation of food.
• Food not meeting retailers’ standards for color and appearance.

Feeding America focuses on reducing food waste on farms and in food service, manufacturing, and retail.  Last year, the Feeding America network and our partners rescued 4.7 billion pounds of groceries. That food went directly to meals for people facing hunger. This makes Feeding America the largest food rescue organization in the country.  Food picked up from stores is tracked via the Grocery Rescue program.

The FISH Food Pantry at Westminster Presbyterian Church partners with King Soopers at 64^th and Sheridan and Kum & Go near 76^th and Federal through the Grocery Rescue program.  Grocery Rescue is sponsored locally by the Food Bank of the Rockies.

One day each week, volunteers pick up “out-of-date” food (an average of 125 pound per week) – including pre-made meals, bread, meat, and dairy – to distribute to our clients.  For example, Kum & Go sell pre-made sandwiches and burritos in their Fresh Market.  Each item is stamped with a freshness date/time to ensure the food sold at Kum & Go is the freshest it can be.  If the food isn’t sold by that time, it is pulled from the shelf and stored in cold storage.  Every few days a local pantry, including FISH, picks up the unsold food for distribution.  The pre-made sandwiches and burritos are particularly appreciated by our clients currently experiencing homelessness.

Through these donations, King Soopers and Kum & GO help the FISH Food Pantry provide high quality fresh food to our clients.  Thanks to them for their on-going generous support!