What, Exactly, Is Food Rescue (and How Does CROSS Services Do It So Well)?
Let me tell you a little something about a couple of folks who are making an enormous difference at CROSS Services and in our communities.
Meet our two food rescue drivers—the guys who go out in the big truck and pick up more than two million pounds of rescued produce, bakery, dairy, meat, and other perishables for CROSS families each year.Matt Cagle (right) has been on the team for about a year. Born and raised right here in Minnesota, he loves camping and fishing and all things outdoors. What’s most important to him as a food rescue driver is knowing that the food that he rescues makes a difference in the lives of CROSS families.
Jeff Mead (left) is new on the team. He and his wife breed champion Great Danes, and even had one go all the way to place third among Great Danes in the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York. What matters to him about working as a food rescue driver? He feels a sense of purpose—his own little bit of contributing to a larger mission.
About CROSS Services Food Rescue
Every year in the U.S., 52 billion pounds of food from manufacturers, grocery stores, and restaurants end up in landfills—about 30% of all food produced! At the same time, 1 in 8 people live with food insecurity—not having enough food for a healthy life. CROSS Services looked at this provocative math and decided to do something about it.
CROSS Services’ food rescue efforts have humble beginnings. At first, it was just a handful of volunteers picking up day-old baked goods from one local grocery store in Osseo. As the agency moved locations (three times) in the 80s and 90s, they slowly began expanding their partnerships. They picked up perishable food from a local Target and Cub Foods. In the early 2000s, they acquired a vehicle and a part-time paid driver to pick up food. Once CROSS Services was in its current facility (2004), Char Lake, CROSS Coordinator, expanded the program even further, purchasing a new food rescue van in 2010 and adding new partners to the roster. In 2004, CROSS Services rescued just over 363,000 pounds of food.
CROSS Services eventually partnered with Second Harvest Heartland to connect with area grocery stores. In 2013, the agency began organic recycling efforts, which benefitted our food rescue partners at the same time we were increasing the amount of fresh, healthy food for families. This food goes not only to the families coming to CROSS Services for help, but also other organizations addressing food insecurity, including Loaves and Fishes, YMCA locations, and the Humanity Alliance.
The agency’s food rescue program continues to thrive. Just this year, CROSS Services purchased a new, refrigerated truck with generous donations from the City of Maple Grove, Hennepin County Business Recycling, Open Your Heart for the Hungry and Homeless Foundation, Van Sloun Foundation, Maple Grove Lions, and numerous other donors.
The Impact of CROSS Services Food Rescue
Last year, CROSS Services rescued just under 2.1 million pounds of food from fifteen different partners throughout our local communities, nearly six times the amount rescued in 2004. And a full 75% of that rescued food gets into the hands of families who can benefit from it (the remainder is unsuitable for human consumption and is recycled accordingly).
Sure, the numbers are huge, but the true measure of the success of CROSS Services’ food rescue program can be seen in the stories of our neighbors who directly benefit from it.
Debra* had a masters degree and a long history of high-paying jobs when she had to quit working to care for her special needs child. Shortly afterward, a personal and financial crisis left her destitute. She came to CROSS Services for help and had this to say about her experience: “I am so grateful beyond words. The fresh food, hygiene supplies, and non-perishables are 90% of what my son and I live on each month. I will pay this forward.” *name changed
Other clients had this to say:
“What is the food shelf doing well? Providing fresh good fruits and vegetables.”
“The fresh produce is great! It allows me to eat healthy.”
How Does CROSS Services Do It?
With two amazing paid drivers: Matt and Jeff, along with a handful of volunteers.
With amazing partnerships: Fifteen food rescue partners, Second Harvest Heartland, and all the donors who helped us purchase our new truck.
With YOU! While CROSS’s food rescue program provides the agency with 80% of the food it needs to serve families, there are still lots of places where your support is critical. It costs a lot to fuel and maintain our food rescue vehicles, provide salaries for our drivers, pay the organic recycling fees, and cover the cost of insurance, among other things. CROSS Service continues to be grateful for the many individuals, businesses, and foundations that donate funds so that this program can thrive.