waste not, want not

We perform food rescue for Boston and the Metrowest area. We pick up and deliver prepared, perishable and unserved food that would otherwise be discarded. We rescue wholesome food from supermarkets, produce wholesalers, bakeries, farmer’s markets, hospitality companies and other such entities.

Our distribution is already helping crisis centers balance their budgets and create a healthier system to feed hungry folks. Our focus beyond direct and local hunger relief, is to educate and raise awareness about fresh, healthier ways of feeding those who are hungry. It is all about what we give and how we give…changing the old ideas about using scraps and overly processed foods. If we can’t produce a next generation without poverty yet, perhaps we can produce a healthier way of helping the less fortunate in our communities.

Our work is local, immediate and direct. We are truly a grassroots organization with a powerful ability and significance.

There is so much food that is wasted, not just in our state but also all over the world. We do our part locally by helping social service entities that feed people struggling with hunger. Our model has been created based on successful templates from organizations such as Foodrunners in San Francisco and City Harvest in New York City. Prepared/perishable foods can be repurposed to feed the ever growing percentage of hungry people in Boston, and it’s a direct contribution to our green community by eliminating waste. There ends up being quite a bit of food that doesn’t have salable or marketable value, and as a result isn’t sold.

We’re proud to make a small contribution to the larger effort, by picking up second-line product every day from markets and wholesalers. Our focus is fresh produce. Bruised apples, freckled bananas, bruised eggplants – fresh foods that no longer have a place on the selling floor or have been refused by restaurants or other vendors. Fresh produce and surplus proteins are especially valuable to our recipients, as so many of their clients are only accustomed to canned fruit and vegetables. We ‘rescue’ this product, and work to bridge the gap between the incredible abundance available, and the ever-growing need.

Donating food is tax-deductible for vendors, and free for recipients.

Lovin’ Spoonfuls involves vendors and purveyors directly in the community, on a daily basis.

Over 96 billion pounds of food is wasted each year – that is roughly 40% of ALL available food in this country. 5% of that number would eradicate hunger nationally…the numbers are shocking, and quite clear in their message – there IS enough food out there, and available. Additionally, $1 BILLION is spent by tax-payers annually to incinerate discarded, wasted food. Lovin’ Spoonfuls seeks to bridge the gap between abundance and need, and cause systemic change in all aspects of hunger relief.

what are the benefits?

The benefits of what Lovin’ Spoonfuls does are three-fold:

1. Food rescue is a direct and immediate contribution to the local hunger relief effort
2. We are a MA-registered 501c3, and all donations, financial, food or  otherwise are tax-deductible
3. It is a green contribution to our community by eliminating waste and the costs and resources that are associated with waste/garbage