Food Runner

If you know of anyone in San Francisco...

Food Runners is an organization in San Francisco that takes unwanted food and gets it to people who want and need it. I heard about it on NPR this morning.

From the website:

Food Runners picks up excess perishable and prepared food from businesses such as restaurants, caterers, bakeries, hospitals, event planners, corporate cafeterias, and hotels and delivers it directly to shelters and neighborhood programs that feed the hungry.

My first job was at a McDonald's. This was back when food sat in a heated bin until it was ordered. Massive amounts of product was tossed every hour. It always bothered me but I was 16 and didn't know what to do about it.

A friend shared a story with me about restaurants in Detroit that were so concerned about being sued by the homeless people who were dumpster diving for their tossed food that they began pouring bleach on the food before throwing it away.

Food Runners is brilliant!! Reduce waste and get food to hungry people. According to NPR, even people with leftovers at home participate and get hooked up with groups in their area who are signed up to receive.

So if you are in San Francisco, you can donate time by picking up from a business and delivering to a shelter or program. If you aren't in San Francisco, you can donate money to the program. You can donate $10 (this is what I did). If you donate $50 or more, you get a gift! A Food Runners apron or t-shirt. You can donate on their website or by check.

Another worthy cause that could be your good deed today!!