Looking back, 2015 was a year of firsts for Community Food Rescue. We launched publically in March, distributed $40,000 in capacity-building grants, trained 50 people in safe food handling, initiated our web-based matching tool, recognized our first Food Recovery Certified donors, and welcomed 136 CFR network members who have redirected 15,039 lbs. of food to our neighbors experiencing hunger. Read on for highlights.
Looking ahead to 2016, with your help, we will grow the CFR network to feed more and waste less in Montgomery County. Happy New Year!
CFR's Growing Network for Food Recovery
Manna Food Center, the largest of CFR's growing network of food assistance organizations, rescues wholesome but unsalable food every day to distribute to 38,000 people each year who experience hunger.
CFR's Network now has 136 members and has redirected 15,039 lbs. of food in it's first quarter.
We're proud of these milestones. But beyond just the numbers, there are stories of farmers that don't plow under their surplus crops, caterers that don't dump leftover delicacies at the end of a party, and cancelled food events that don't end up filling the trash.
As soon as
Tropical Fusion Caterers posted their 35 lbs. of international cuisine, the CFR web tool instantly matched the donation with
Bethesda Cares, which serves hot lunch to their homeless clients.
CFR offers videos on safe food handling and transportation
Food businesses want to know that the food they donate is handled safely. Food recipients may wonder whether a can of food with an expired "best used by" date is safe to eat. Food safety is of paramount importance to everyone. That's why Community Food Rescue has incorporated
safe food handling practices throughout the donation process.
Poolesville Farmers are First Certified Food Donors
Farmer Courtney Buchholtz, From the Earth Foods, LLC
Food Recovery Certified sticker
Farmer Amanda Cather, Plow and Stars Farm
From the Earth Foods LLC, and
Plow and Stars Farms in Montgomery County, are the first CFR food businesses to become certified by
Food Recovery Certified. Farmer Courtney Buchholtz (left) and farmer Amanda Cather (right) will proudly display their eye-catching stickers that lets their customers know about the fantastic work they are doing to fight food waste and feed people.
Courtney never knew about Western Upper Montgomery County (
WUMCO)-Help, a food assistance organization just down the road from her in Poolesville, until they met through Community Food Rescue's
matching web tool.
