Feeding America encourages support of its Food Rescue program for Earth Day

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. – At least 188,000 neighbors across the Commonwealth’s heartland still face food insecurity, according to Feeding America.

Through its Food Rescue program, Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland partners with area retailers and community members to recover safe, nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste.

That food then gets passed to those in need.

“Far too much good, safe food is going to waste while families in our region are still struggling to put meals on the table,” said FAKH executive director Charles Dennis. “Through our Food Rescue Program, we’re working to bridge that gap. This Earth Day, we’re calling on our community to join our endeavor to recover more surplus food, reduce environmental impact and make sure our neighbors have access to the nutritious meals they deserve.”

According to Feeding America, surplus food is “safe, edible food that is discarded instead of consumed.”

This often happens from outer imperfections in produce, items nearing but not surpassing sell-by dates, overproduction on farms or damage during transportation.

In 2024, officials say food waste accounted for 9% of U.S. methane emissions, and an estimated 16 trillion gallons of water were used to produce surplus food that went uneaten, according to the ReFED report.

Overall, Feeding America says 29% of the U.S. food supply is surplus, equaling 114 billion lost meals, enough to feed nearly one-third of the U.S. population for a whole year.

Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland says it partners with retailers, such as Walmart, Dollar General, Food Lion and Kroger, to recover food that may not meet retail standards but is still safe to eat. It then redistributes it to neighbors in need through agency partners.

The food is eventually sorted and stored at the nonprofit’s facilities in Elizabethtown and Bowling Green.

During fiscal year 2025, Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland says it redistributed over 5.5 million pounds of food from retailers alone.

The nonprofit is inviting community members to support its Food Rescue program. Feeding America says a monthly donation of $10 can help rescue 90 pounds of food from going to waste and provide up to 75 meals for neighbors in need.

To learn more about programming through Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland and to donate, click here.