Do you remember when we told you about the Morning Call front-page feature back in December? We called it “a tremendous validation of our impact.” What we didn’t know then was just how much momentum that spotlight would spark.
Since that ride-along, the freight train has left the station. And we have the numbers, and the stories, to prove it.
A Year-End Milestone Worth Celebrating
We closed out 2025 having rescued over 81,000 pounds of food and essential items for the year.
That’s more than 40 tons of good things — food, household goods, personal care items — diverted from landfills and delivered to neighbors in need across the Lehigh Valley.
We didn’t do this alone. You made it possible.
Our First Fundraising Appeal — and You Delivered
This winter, we launched our very first formal fundraising campaign. Thanks to a generous $25,000 matching gift from Michele and Howard, every dollar donated went twice as far.
We are proud to say: you matched it. Every dollar of that $25,000 challenge was met. That is $50,000 combined going directly to our mission. Thank you for answering the call.
Water — by the Pallet
In one of our biggest logistical achievements yet, we partnered with Western Express and Poland Springs to receive 30+ pallets of bottled water for distribution to our community partners.
Two full trailer loads were redirected to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley, who passed one load all the way to City Harvest of New York City — extending our reach far beyond the Lehigh Valley. We have also connected with Central PA Food Bank and Philabundance (Philadelphia) for potential future loads, and we expect regular monthly pallets of water going forward.
None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of ATAS International, who opened their warehouse space and loading dock for these deliveries. A huge thank you to Chris and the entire ATAS team for providing forklift unloading and loading as our community partners come in for larger pickups. You are a true partner in this mission.
Parkland School District: All In
When we launched our food rescue program at Parkland High School in 2024, we could not have imagined where it would lead. Today, we are thrilled to share that all 12 schools in the Parkland School District are now participating in food rescue — including all 9 elementary schools and both middle schools.
Here’s how it works: Students place unopened, unused breakfast and lunch items on “share tables” throughout the day, where classmates can take what they need. At the end of service, remaining items are consolidated at one location for our weekly pickup and delivered to local food pantries and shelters.
This partnership means nutritious food that would have been thrown away is now feeding families in our community instead. And students are learning firsthand about reducing waste and caring for their neighbors… a lesson that will last a lifetime.
Thank you to the entire Parkland School District team for making this happen. This is what community collaboration looks like.
Keeping Neighbors Warm This Winter
As temperatures dropped this season, we expanded our reach to warming stations across the region, providing essential supplies to ensure our neighbors had a warm, safe, and clean place to seek shelter.
We are now partnering with:
- Allentown Warming Station
- Lehighton Cold Weather Station
- Christ United Methodist Church Warming Center — Easton
- Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering
Every item delivered was rescued — diverted from waste and redirected to where it was needed most. We have helped stock these locations with hot cocoa mix, bottled water, cleaning supplies, paper towels, and more.
Huge thanks to these organizations for the incredible work they do on the front lines.
17 New Volunteers — and Growing
We added 17 new rescue volunteers to our roster this winter, all using the Food Rescue US app to review and accept rescue opportunities in real time. This technology has transformed how we coordinate pickups — making it easier than ever for community members to jump in and help.
Just last week, we held our first-ever volunteer gathering — a chance to celebrate the amazing work our volunteers are doing and to talk about next steps for the organization. The energy in the room was something special. We are building something real here.
Expanding Our Community Network
The momentum has carried into every room we have walked into:
- Attended a nonprofit networking event with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Met with the United Way of the Lehigh Valley to discuss how they can amplify our efforts
- Sat down with Second Harvest Food Bank to explore ways to support each other’s missions
- Connected with Emmaus High School to discuss launching a food rescue partnership
- Met with two state representatives and one candidate for state representative to share our work and identify ways they can help
- Helped political campaigns rescue surplus food from events and deliver it to those in need
- Submitted multiple grant applications to fund our growing operations
Welcoming New Community Partners
Our network continues to grow. We are proud to welcome these organizations to the iHave iNeed community:
AmeriCares · The Gathering Place · Groceris Plus · Light It Up for Humanity
Each new partner means more reach, more impact, and more neighbors served.
Help Us Grow on Social Media
We are grateful for our 381 Facebook followers — thank you! But we are just getting started on Instagram, where we currently have 52 followers. If you are on Instagram, please follow us and share our posts. Every follow, like, and share helps us reach more people, recruit more volunteers, and attract more community partners.
Here’s How You Can Help
The work is accelerating, and we need your support to keep up:
- Know a school or business with surplus food? Make an introduction — we will handle the rest.
- Volunteer to help with pickups and deliveries in your community.
- Donate to help cover transportation, supplies, and operational costs. A recurring gift of just $1/day makes a real difference.
- Follow and share our posts on Facebook and Instagram to spread the word.
- Introduce us to anyone with a vehicle, warehouse space, or business connections.
Together, we are building a community where good food never goes to waste and no one goes without.
Thank you for believing in this mission — and for making every rescue possible.