More Than a Million Pounds: How Three Nonprofits Are Using Food Rescue in San Diego to Feed People and Provide Jobs
When you see an orange Feeding San Diego van in the community, it means someone is rescuing surplus food. But some of these vans have an extra mark that makes them special: a Salvation Army logo. These vans are part of a unique partnership between Feeding San Diego, the Salvation Army, and the Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF). For the last six years, we have been part of a collaborative employment program that uses food rescue in San Diego to feed neighbors and provide jobs. Last month, we hit a major milestone: one million pounds of rescued food! But more than that, this program shows the power of a collaborative model to help rebuild lives.
Daniel, a former Salvation Army food rescue driver, in front of one of the Feeding San Diego vans used by the Salvation Army
How Three Partners Built Something New
Six years ago, the LDF provided funding to the Salvation Army through its regional employment and job training program. The Salvation Army used the funds to hire residents from its homeless shelter and trained them as food rescue route drivers. Feeding San Diego supplied the pickup routes, connecting those drivers to surplus food from grocery stores and businesses.
“We constantly, every day, are rescuing food throughout the community and delivering it throughout the community,” said Patty O’Connor, Feeding San Diego’s chief operations officer. “It’s programs like this that take it one step further.”
The rescued food flows back into Salvation Army food pantries, reaching people close to or already experiencing homelessness. Each partner brings what the others can’t do alone, creating a self-reinforcing cycle.
Representatives from Feeding San Diego, the Lucky Duck Foundation, and the Salvation Army at the press conference celebrating the rescue of one million pounds of food
The Pounds Are Only Half the Story
Rescuing one million pounds of food is an incredible milestone. But what makes this program special is its ongoing impact on the community.
“The Lucky Duck Foundation’s half-million-dollar investment saved a million pounds of perfectly viable food, which is actually a value of almost two million dollars worth of food,” explained Drew Moser, CEO of Lucky Duck Foundation. “And two dozen people have been able to graduate from this program and move on to long-term employment and housing. From our perspective, it’s a win all around.”
Working as a food rescue driver provides job experience and helps bridge the gap for individuals who have experienced homelessness.
“I was unhoused for a long time,” shared Joel Henderson, a Salvation Army food rescue driver. “I’ve been in the tent, out, under the bridge before myself. It’s a horrible experience. That’s why I wanted this job. It’s a give-back job, and I know a lot of the unhoused people around here, so it makes me feel good.”
According to the LDF, nearly every Salvation Army resident who has participated in the program has secured full-time employment and permanent housing.
Joel picking up food on one of his food rescue driver routes
A Blueprint for Other Food Rescue Programs
The success rate of our three-pronged partnership shows what collaboration can do for the community. There are three critical aspects: a funder committed to employment outcomes, a shelter with residents ready to work, and a food rescue organization with established routes.
“This program shows what’s possible when organizations leverage their strengths to collaborate,” Moser says. “We hope others across the region, and country for that matter, will replicate this model.”
“Partnerships like this demonstrate the power of working together to strengthen our community, and we could not be more proud to work alongside one another,” added Bob Kamensky, Feeding San Diego’s CEO.
Providing Food and Hope
Every pound of food rescued through this program flows into our community. As Major Rob Reardon of the Salvation Army put it, “One million pounds of food means countless families will have hope on their tables and reassurance in their hearts knowing their community stands beside them in times of need.”
Your support helps make partnerships like this one possible. There are many ways you can get involved in providing food and hope to our community. We are always in need of both donations and volunteers. You can also help by spreading the word about Feeding San Diego and our mission to end hunger through food rescue in San Diego County.
