Thank you for your continued support of our mission to rescue surplus food and redirect it to neighbors in need. Your generosity makes every rescue possible, and we’re excited to share the incredible impact we’ve achieved together this month.
Weekly Rescue Highlights
Week after week, our dedicated volunteers have been hard at work rescuing thousands of pounds of nutritious food from local businesses and schools. Over the past 2 months alone, we rescued over 16,000 pounds of bagels, dairy products, fresh bread and rolls, apple slices, carrots, breakfast sandwiches, juice cups, fresh vegetables, baby formula, and various snacks. All of these items were delivered directly to local organizations supporting those in need, ensuring that good food reaches families instead of landfills.
Growing School Partnerships
We’re thrilled to share exciting news about our school district partnerships. Since launching our collaboration with Parkland School District in mid-April, we’ve rescued an incredible 4,182 pounds of unopened food items from Parkland High School. This nutritious food has been delivered to local food pantries and shelters, demonstrating what happens when schools, students, and community volunteers come together for good. We’re proud to announce plans to expand this program to all 12 schools in the district this coming school year.
Our partnership with Northern Lehigh School District continues to flourish as well. Together, we’ve rescued over 4,000 pounds of milk, fruit, and snacks, which have been redistributed to the Northern Lehigh Food Bank, Operation: Address the Homeless, Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank, Salvation Army of Allentown, and Catasauqua Food Pantry.
New Community Partnerships
Last month, we welcomed several new partners to our growing network. We’ve begun regular deliveries to Casa Guadalupe, a vital nonprofit serving the Lehigh Valley since 1969 that provides essential health, education, and social services to residents of all ages. We’re also collaborating with Thank Full Hearts Foundation in a beautiful two-way partnership where we share surplus resources to ensure nothing goes to waste.
Additionally, SMP Mini Mart has become a generous regular donor of their excess bread and deli items. This rescued food was delivered to the nearby Catasauqua Food Pantry, Whitehall Food Pantry, as well as other charitable organizations in the area.
Seasonal Plant Rescue
As the growing season continues, we’ve been busy rescuing thousands of vegetable plants, blooming flowers, and other plants across the Lehigh Valley… from Flower Tents of the Lehigh Valley… we’re sure you’ve seen them along the roadside! These plants have been delivered to our charitable partners, empowering them to grow their own fresh produce and fill their spaces with beauty, bringing nourishment and joy to the incredible people they support every day.
Thank you for being part of this amazing community effort. Your support enables us to turn surplus into sustenance and waste into hope. We look forward to continuing this vital work together and expanding our reach to serve even more neighbors in need.
How You Can Help
None of this vital work would be possible without our incredible volunteers and dedicated partners like Via of the Lehigh Valley, whose staff and participants consistently assist with pickups and deliveries each week. If you’re interested in volunteering, please let us know!
As we continue to expand our reach and rescue efforts, our current transportation capacity is being stretched. To truly maximize our impact, we are seeking support to obtain a minivan, Sprinter van, or similar. Your help with the initial purchase or lease, as well as ongoing insurance and maintenance costs, would be invaluable. A one-time tax-deductible donation is always welcome, or you can consider a recurring monthly contribution to help us sustain our mission. Alternatively, if you have a personal connection with an auto dealership that might be able to help, we’d appreciate an introduction!
Your continued generosity fuels our mission to reduce waste and build a more sustainable and compassionate community. We are profoundly grateful for your partnership in this vital work and look forward to sharing more updates on the difference we are making together.