This app is helping fight America’s massive food waste problem
A new web-based platform is making it easier than ever for businesses to donate unused food to food banks.
Feeding America, one of the biggest hunger relief nonprofits in the U.S, launched MealConnect in honor of Earth Day. Using MealConnect, businesses with too much food can connect with thousands of food banks to make sure their food isn’t wasted.
Businesses simply log in to the platform and post when they have food to donate. The platform does the heavy-lifting, figuring out which food bank is best suited for the donation.
Businesses don’t have to be regular contributors to participate – the app works the same for people who donate once a day or once a year.
"MealConnect will allow us to supplement these great national efforts with donations captured from regional and local donors who may not have a consistent donation stream," said Feeding America CEO Diana Aviv.
According to Feeding America, the organization saves 2.8 billion pounds of food every year that would otherwise be wasted, giving it to people in need instead. The more businesses who participate, the better — data shows Americans have a food waste problem, to the tune of about 72 billion pounds of food every year.
If you’re a business owner who would like to donate unused food, take a look at MealConnect here.