GB Magazine April 2023 | Page 76

Nutrition

Feed More , Waste Less

With more than 330,000 people facing hunger in San Diego County , Feeding San Diego is rescuing surplus food to provide hunger relief .

Here is a mind-boggling fact : according to the U . S . Food & Drug Administration , food is the single largest category of material placed in municipal landfills . This food represents nourishment that could have helped feed families in need , such as the more than 330,000 people in San Diego County who are experiencing food insecurity . Feeding San Diego , the county ’ s leading hunger-relief and food rescue non-profit , prioritizes rescuing food as a sourcing strategy because it is one of the greatest solutions to help end hunger , while also protecting the planet . Already this fiscal year , Feeding San Diego has distributed 26,630,848 pounds of food , the equivalent of 22,192,374 meals , to help support families in need . This includes Eulalia , a food recipient who gave insight into the paradox .
“ It is not good to throw out food because a lot of people and a lot of families do not have enough , including myself ,” she shared . “ There are times that I do not have food . We eat everything Feeding San Diego gives us .”
Hunger-relief must be fueled by
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Volunteer lead Arthur Wang carries fresh rescued produce to be distributed at a Produce Pantry at Feeding San Diego
food rescue because hunger is not a sourcing problem , it is a distribution problem . You might be surprised to learn that the food Feeding San Diego ’ s network rescues is the same food you buy at the grocery store or a restaurant . Food rescue requires immediate action - Feeding San Diego ’ s sourcing team receives unexpected calls daily from food donors who have donations to give , quickly . Food is perishable , businesses must adhere to