Feeding People and Protecting the Planet as a MealConnect Volunteer Driver

It’s a beautiful, sunshine-filled afternoon when Brian pulls his green pick-up truck up to the back entrance of Albertson’s in Escondido. A brightly colored magnet on the driver’s door announces his mission: MealConnect™ Food Rescue. Brian is a MealConnect volunteer driver. These volunteers answer the call when our food donors use the MealConnect app to let us know they have surplus food to donate. Many businesses use this app, from grocery stores to restaurants to the San Diego Zoo! Recently, he let us tag along on one of his shifts so we could show how our volunteer drivers help us keep fresh food in local communities to feed people, not landfills.

Brian shows off his MealConnect volunteer driver sticker

A Quick Pick-Up

Once a week, Brian clears out the back of his pickup and heads over to the Albertson’s location in Escondido. The day we visit, the staff in the back is ready for him with boxes of surplus food, from bread and bakery items to frozen foods and fresh produce.

“It’s not really that exciting,” Brian says, almost apologetically. “It’s a quick hit. I come in, and 10 minutes later, I’m done.”

He’s right. Within a few minutes, the empty bed of his truck is packed with boxes of food that would otherwise end up in the landfill.

Boxes of rescued food from Albertson’s ready to be delivered to the Salvation Army

“In the big scheme of things, it’s probably not a lot, but it feels good to be part of the process,” Brian shares as he finishes packing the truck. “The driving works out perfectly with my schedule. I set aside two hours every week. The fact that I can do this consistently is a pretty good feeling.”

Making the Connection

With the truck fully loaded, we head out of the Albertson’s lot and onto the next stop: the Salvation Army in Escondido. We’re met by Lieutenant Denise Latrell, who helps Brian unload the truck and bring the food into the center. The drop-off takes less than half an hour to complete, but Lieutenant Latrell beams at the delivery.

Lieutenant Denise Latrell with the Salvation Army in Escondido

“We get thousands of pounds of food from Feeding San Diego that we use to feed our community,” she tells us. “Every Monday and Friday, we do food programs for our community where we give out thousands of boxes of food. We house 198 seniors on-site in affordable housing, and on Wednesdays, we deliver grocery boxes to them. We really appreciate the partnership with Feeding San Diego.”

Before we leave, Brian collects empty boxes from the center. He’s now prepared for another food rescue expedition next week where he’ll follow the same route – home to Albertson’s to Salvation Army and back again.

Putting Surplus Food to Good Use

About 35% of all food produced goes to waste in the US. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of people in San Diego County lack the food they need to thrive. By allowing Feeding San Diego to rescue surplus food, companies like Albertson’s have the option to feed people instead of sending food to the landfill.

“I just went over to Albertson’s, picked up a pickup truck full of food that they’re not going to use, and dropped it off at the Salvation Army and they’re going to put it to good use.”

“If you really think about how much food is wasted, it’s pretty incredible,” Brian remarked during the shift. “It’s a great thing that companies have started donating food. When I get to Albertson’s, they call all the departments and they all bring out something. Whether it’s one box or five or ten, it just depends on what they have. I appreciate that they’re being active in terms of not wasting it.”

As a MealConnect volunteer driver, Brian plays an integral role in feeding his community and protecting the planet from harmful food waste. We invite anyone with a few hours to spare to sign up for this important volunteer opportunity. Find out more about being a MealConnect volunteer driver.