Round 2-October 2024: Can you help rescue excess produce?

Round 2 Oct. 18, 2024: Can you help rescue excess produce?

This is a food gleaning pilot project of the Community Food Security Network hosted by Sioux Falls Thrive.
60,000+

Sioux Falls residents
live in food deserts
11,500

Food desert
residents live
in poverty
For children, food insecurity is particularly devastating. Not having
enough healthy food can have serious implications for a child’s physical
and mental health, academic achievement and future economic prosperity.

~Feeding America
Data shows that food waste is a significant problem in our community. Over the last several months, the Community Food Security Network has been developing a strategy to reduce food waste and process the results into usable food items.

The team conducted a highly successful first round to test the theory. The goal was to learn whether a group of volunteers, interested gardeners and local chefs can collaborate in a short period of time to rescue garden produce that might otherwise go to waste. The result on Sept. 23, 2024 was 203 pounds of donated produce and amazing amounts of simple meal starters to be distributed in the community.

Click here to see details and pictures from the first effort.

The second round is scheduled for the Oct. 18. Wesley United Methodist has offered the use of their commercial kitchen for food processing. A handful of volunteer chefs and food preservation experts are ready to do their part. And other volunteers are ready to pick up and deliver excess garden produce to the kitchen.

All that is needed now is your help finding the food.

If this sounds like a project you would be interested in supporting by contributing excess produce, please complete this form before Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
PotatoesCarrotsSquashBeetsTomatoesOnionsCabbageBaking pumpkins
Pick up will be scheduled the morning of Oct. 18. If you would prefer, you may deliver your contribution to the kitchen at 1700 E. 6th Street. Please use the blue door on the north side of the building.

When details are set, how can we contact you?
Name*

First NameLast Name
Email*
example@example.com
Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
If the volunteers will be picking up from you, please share your address below.
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState

Zip Code
Any special instructions? For instance, if you won't be there during the time of pick up, where will you leave the produce so it's easy for volunteers to find? Volunteers will not harvest any produce. And, unless otherwise instructed, volunteers will transfer your contribution into a separate container for delivery to the kitchen.
Visit online to read more about the group behind this project: https://siouxfallsthrive.org/food-security-team/

Visit this form online if you can help by picking up produce or supporting the kitchen crew:
Should be Empty:

Round 2 Oct. 18, 2024: Can you help rescue excess produce?