St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Rescue Mission: Ending Waste One Meal at a Time

St. Vincent de Paul is urgently seeking volunteers to assist in its efforts to combat food waste and hunger in Arizona. Nearly 40% of the nation’s food supply ends up as waste, with 1.7 million tons disposed of in Arizona alone. This comes at a time when 1 million residents in the state face food insecurity.

To address this crisis, St. Vincent de Paul operates its Food Reclamation Center in Phoenix, dedicated to ensuring that no edible food goes to waste. Every day, the center receives thousands of pounds of food, which undergo a stringent quality control process before being distributed to one of the organization’s 80 pantries across northern and central Arizona.

April Good, the organization’s food reclamation manager, mentioned that in addition to food distribution, the center sends about 130,000 pounds of food monthly to various pantries. “Lots of dressing… cranberry sauce, green beans—those are staples this time of year,” she noted, emphasizing the seasonal demand.

The center also packages tens of thousands of food boxes for families in need. “Annually, we distribute about 168,000 food boxes to families across central Arizona,” Good explained, reflecting on the significant impact of their distribution efforts.

Besides supporting food pantries, the reclaimed food benefits shelters and dining rooms. Good highlighted that the mission extends beyond merely providing meals; it is about community engagement and support. Volunteers play a crucial role in this mission. Jason Wong, president and CEO of Asian Corporate and Entrepreneur Leaders, expressed the importance of building community ties through service. “We wanted to bring the community together,” he stated.

Despite the robust volunteer team, the organization continues to seek more hands. “It takes about 20 volunteers to run our food box program,” Good stated. “We’re constantly looking for willing participants to join our efforts.” This ongoing initiative is part of a broader goal: to feed, clothe, house, and heal the community.

For those interested in volunteering or donating, there are opportunities available to contribute to this vital cause.