Sustainability

Your Foodbank plays a vital role in local sustainability efforts within our community. In 2022, the Foodbank helped rescue and distribute more than 30 million pounds of food. Rescuing perfectly edible, nourishing food that would otherwise go to waste means feeding families facing hunger and taking a large step in protecting our planet and conserving our resources. In addition to rescuing food from retail partners with our fleet of trucks, the Foodbank has a variety of programs to reduce waste.

Direct Distribution

A Direct Distribution is a program between the Foodbank and a select network partner or community organization to host large, onsite distributions of produce and dry goods to geographic areas of need. These distributions are made possible through our partnership with the Ohio Agricultural Clearance Program (OACP), which secures surplus agricultural products from more than 100 Ohio farmers, growers and producers to Ohio's 12 Feeding America food banks. This program prevents unnecessary waste, reduces losses in the agricultural community and provides fruits and vegetables to people in need.

Community Harvest program

Community Harvest is the Foodbank’s prepared and perishable food rescue program that partners with restaurants, retail partners and more to collect and deliver safe and nourishing food directly to food programs. This program prevents hundreds of thousands of pounds of food from entering landfills every year.

Agency Direct Pickup program

The Agency Direct Pickup program (ADP) is an innovative food distribution model that empowers hunger-relief partners to pick up food donations directly from local food donors and take them back to their program. This alternative distribution model ensures that food programs with limited food storage space receive perishable products “just in time” for distribution. Because of our committed partners, this food is being rescued rather than thrown out.

Food Rescue Across the Country

Each year, 119 billion pounds of food is wasted and ends up in landfills and incinerators across the country. That equates to 130 billion meals and more than $408 billion in food thrown away each year. Nearly 40% of all food in America is wasted.*

Food Banks, a Green Solution to Hunger

According to the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), food banks operating in dozens of countries help prevent billions of kilograms of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere each year. The report highlights the large-scale environmental impact of food banks diverting food from landfills that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, which then affect climate change.**

How You Can Help

Hunger is a solvable problem. More than enough food is produced in the world to feed everyone. With your support, your Foodbank will continue to move the needle toward a thriving community free of hunger, while positively impacting our environment.

Support your Foodbank. Please consider making a financial contribution or volunteering.
Purchase imperfect produce to send a strong message to your local supermarket that beauty ISN’T skin deep.
Plan, prep and store meals to reduce your family’s food waste. Learn more.
Consider composting your food waste. Learn more.