Houston, TX — Starting only three years ago, Second Servings of Houston has now rescued over 1 million pounds of surplus food, valued at over $6 million. This is perfectly edible food that would have gone to the waste, but is now feeding people. Food waste is a growing problem in America, with the USDA estimating that as much as 40 percent of available food gets wasted annually, costing $165 billion and damaging the environment with potent greenhouse gas emissions at landfills. Wasted food could potentially feed up to 25 million Americans. In the U.S., 1 in 6 individuals faces food insecurity. Houston’s situation is worse, with 1 in 5 Houstonians facing food insecurity. To combat these issues, Second Servings delivers high quality, unsold and unserved food to 47 approved charity meal sites, and is Houston’s only prepared and perishable food rescue organization.
Second Servings was able to reach the million pound milestone, with the support of over 175 donors, including produce providers Brothers Produce, Gundermann Acres, Aramark at Minute Maid Park, Atkinson Farms, and Dos Brisas. Donors partner with Second Servings to schedule pickups on a regular or occasional basis. Second Servings’ largest produce donor, Brothers Produce, donates hundreds of pounds everyday. Brent Erenwert, Chief Executive Officer of Brothers Produce, said, “while helping our community is the primary reason we participate, we are also recognizing a 30% reduction in our waste disposal fees and an enhanced tax deduction.”
The donated food is distributed to a network of carefully vetted charity meal sites that serve over 12,500 needy individuals a week. Unlike a food bank, Second Servings doesn’t store the food. “We make pick- ups and drop-offs the same day in refrigerated vehicles, which ensures the food stays fresh and safe,” according to Second Servings’ founder, Barbara Bronstein. The donated food helps nourish a wide range of individuals, including abused women and children, at-risk youth, veterans, disabled homeless seniors, developmentally challenged adults, the LGBTQ community, and many more. Produce donations are in high demand since charity sites are wanting to provide healthier food to the individuals they serve. Benefits for charity recipients are saving preparation time and money, which they are redeploying to serve more people and provide more services. In addition, these donations are giving food insecure individuals the opportunity to experience many new fruits and vegetables, as well as gourmet food.
Second Servings of Houston, a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt non-profit, strives to alleviate hunger while reducing waste, and is Houston’s only prepared and perishable food rescue organization. Established in 2014, Second Servings creates partnerships with food businesses in Houston to seek food donations. The organization rescues unserved and unsold food from these businesses that would otherwise go to waste, and delivers it the same day to 47 approved charity sites (shelters, soup kitchens, low-income housing and others).
Source: Second Servings of Houston
