Rethink Food's Community Heroes

“When you can give a meal, and it’s hope - that tomorrow is another day, that it’s a better day, that’s how you create community. You do it one kindness at a time. And that’s what Rethink Food has allowed us to do.” - Jeannette Lugo, AGAPE Food Rescue and Rethink Food CBO Partner since 2021.
We’ve seen the numbers and know that food insecurity is not a question of supply but a failure of logistics. Every year, it is estimated that over one-third of the food produced in the U.S. is never eaten - while 38 million Americans are unsure when or where they’ll find their next meal. This is why Rethink Food exists; to bridge the gap between nutritious excess food and communities facing food insecurity.
Our programs are uniquely effective because we develop critical connections in the food system on a local scale, working directly with neighborhood community-based organizations (CBOs)-who are fluent in the preferences and needs of their communities-and local restaurants that can respond to their needs and be closer to their communities. By collaborating with community leaders in their neighborhoods, we can begin to build a truly equitable food system. A food system that addresses the environmental significance of food waste while empowering local stakeholders to inform how best to support their communities.
We were grateful to visit some of our CBO partners over the last few months to understand how their operations have evolved this summer and what their partnership with Rethink Food means. We’re humbled to share their stories, and we hope you join us in supporting their work as they continue to address the escalating levels of food hardship impacting our communities nationwide and face increasing demand for meals. Watch what they have to say.