Local Resident Shops to Raise Money for Food Pantries

When COVID-19 significantly expanded the number of food insecure families, Love Your Food team member Beth Radow grew concerned and figured out a way to raise money for local food pantries while wasting less food in the process. She does this by transforming the way she purchases food. She searches for food just before the “sell by” date and buys it for a fraction of its original price. Purchasing produce at its peak and other sale items like “Manager Special” priced chicken, keeps quality food from going to waste and brings hefty savings at the check-out register. Beth then takes those savings and donates them to food pantries.

If your local supermarket doesn’t yet have a special shelf for peak produce and day-old breads and cakes, ask the store management to establish one. On January 1, 2022 New York State’s Food Donation & Food Scraps Recycling Law will require supermarkets and other large food generators (such as restaurants, hotels & motels, colleges & universities, malls and event centers) to “redirect wholesome edible food to those in need and food scraps to organics recycling facilities.”

Read about the new law.