Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
We anticipated that we would be able to provide another 5,000,000 meals to Minnesotans in need and rescue over 10,00,000 pounds of food through 2023. We are thrilled to report that we were able to serve 5,953,250 meals to an estimated 420,724 unduplicated Minnesotans in need across all programming. Additionally, we rescued 12,575,591 pounds of food otherwise destined for landfills through 2023. Both meals served and food rescued amounts are the largest in our organization’s history.
Current Goals
In response to the hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans who are experiencing food insecurity, we anticipate the following projected activities for 2024: provide 6,500,000 healthy meals via equitable meal programming; rescue 13,000,000 pounds of food to support our equitable meal programming; increase our impact throughout Minnesota by expanding our current programming to St. Cloud; teach 125-250 people low-waste cooking techniques at our central kitchen; work towards decreasing our overall food waste by assessing best use of products; and recruit new meal partners, food rescue partners, donors, and volunteers while maintaining high customer service standards throughout all initiatives.
Community or Constituency Served
Access to healthy food is a basic need. Therefore, we offer our services to anyone who is food insecure and vulnerable. This includes Minnesotans of all ages, gender identities, races and ethnicities, immigrant status’, family structures, or religious perspectives. Some are experiencing generational poverty, are precariously housed, live paycheck to paycheck, and are disabled, unemployed, or under-employed. Many are veterans, retired on a fixed income, and have underlying health conditions.
Geographic Area Served
We serve meals and rescue food in Aitkin, Anoka, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Dakota, Hennepin, Lake, Lyon, Mille Lacs, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Stearns, St. Louis, and Washington counties and continue to expand into Greater Minnesota.
