Did you know that in Utah, nearly 400,000 people experience food insecurity? Did you also know that, on average, individuals throw away up to 40% of the food they purchase, and that businesses and events often generate excess food that goes to waste? When this food waste ends up in landfills, it contributes significantly to environmental issues, accounting for approximately 14% of the United States’ methane emissions.
What can be done, you ask?
Enter Alexx Goeller, Executive Director of WasteLess Solutions, a Utah-based nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing food waste and combating hunger through innovative community partnerships and initiatives, who has some ideas.
"We have brought on some new funders and partnerships, which has been exciting," Alexx said. "We have also created some new corporate partnership packages to help support specific parts of our mission."
The organization rescues surplus food from local businesses that would otherwise go to waste and rapidly redirects it to individuals and families in need. Volunteers, known as "food rescuers," use the Food Rescue US app to transport these fresh, edible items to partner organizations, such as Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs, and Rescue Missions, ensuring nutritious food reaches the community instead of the landfill. There is a waitlist currently for food receiving sites. Applications are located on the website for any organization that would like to get added.
"We did another huge pickup this year at the Salt Palace in July and rescued 20,000 pounds of food," Alexx said. "We also picked up from the Utah Arts Festival for the first time, and we have added several Intermountain Health Hospitals, which has been great."
In an effort to expand its impact even further, WasteLess Solutions recently launched the Mobile Market initiative with the support of a grant from Whole Foods. This project utilizes a fully refrigerated electric van to deliver healthy food directly to partners such as Comunidades Unidas, enabling even broader access to fresh produce for underserved communities. Since its launch in May, the Mobile Market has strengthened the organization's mission to combat food waste and support food security across Utah.
Thanks to backing from the Park City Community Foundation, WasteLess Solutions recently extended its Zero Food Waste initiative into Summit County, marking an exciting step forward in its mission. This expansion is instrumental in advancing the vision of eliminating food waste from local landfills by 2030.
How You Can Make a Difference
- Volunteer as a Food Rescuer: Use the Food Rescue US app to complete quick, meaningful food pickups and deliveries. The app highlights opportunities that can fit into almost any schedule.
- Make a Donation: Your contributions help provide the resources necessary for ongoing food rescue operations and outreach. Mark your calendars to attend the annual Second Chance Dance fundraiser in August. All proceeds are reinvested in the organization to support its mission. This year, they raised $45,000 on August 25.
- Share Your Surplus Produce: Donating extra fruits or vegetables from your garden is a direct way to help fight hunger locally.
- Become a Food Receiver: If your organization serves people in need, consider partnering with WasteLess Solutions to distribute rescued food effectively.
- Learn Food Waste Prevention: Online course coming soon!
For more information, to support the cause, or to get involved, please visit the WasteLess Solutions website at Wastlesssoultions.org