Feeding America Works with Food Businesses to Address Hunger

DONATION BLOG SERIES PART III - Feeding America

07/16/2020

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on people struggling with hunger across communities nationwide. According to the USDA, before the pandemic over 37 million people in the U.S., including 11.2 million children, did not have adequate access to nutritious food. A recent Feeding America analysis estimates that this number is likely to grow by 17 million, including nearly seven million children. That means approximately 54 million people (1 in 6 people) may experience food insecurity in 2020, including 1 in 4 children.

Due to rising demand at food banks and concerns about food waste amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief and food rescue organization, is expanding its MealConnect platform. The innovative donation app allows food businesses anywhere in the country to donate unsold product to local nonprofits. All 200 food banks in the Feeding America network are connected The MealConnect platform. Any restaurant, caterer, grocer, hotel, independent food distribution company and other community food business can use the platform to donate product to the charitable food banking system.

With coronavirus disrupting the supply chain and food business operations, MealConnect can help reduce food waste, benefit the environment, and put food on the tables for neighbors affected by the economic downturn.

Retailers interested in donating can visit https://mealconnect.org/ . The MealConnect app is also available for free download in both the iOS App and Google Play stores. For more information on Feeding America, visit https://www.feedingamerica.org/.

You can also hear from Feeding America in the Retail Compliance Center’s (RCC) recent webinar on Retail Donation Programs.

*The above is adapted from a recent Feeding America press release and has been permitted for use by Feeding America.*

RETAIL COMPLIANCE CENTER

The Retail Compliance Center (RCC) provides resources on environmental compliance and sustainability for all types and sizes of retailers. The RCC’s goal is to develop retail-specific resources, tools and innovative solutions to help companies cost-effectively improve their compliance and environmental performance. Visit the RCC for more information.