Forgotten Harvest Serves Nearly 7-Million Pounds of Food
Forgotten Harvest delivered nearly 7-million pounds of food in 2005 to metro-Detroit charities, up 23 percent from 2004, as it creates one of the most comprehensive food-recovery programs in the United States.
Southfield, MI (PRWEB) December 25, 2005
Forgotten Harvest delivered nearly 7-million pounds of food in 2005 to metro-Detroit charities, up 23 percent from 2004, as it creates one of the most comprehensive food-recovery programs in the United States.
Thanks to donations from grocers, caterers, restaurants and other businesses, Forgotten Harvest “recovered” 5.7-million pounds of food in 2004 (one pound equals one meal).
“The generosity of our donors has been amazing,” says Susan Goodell, executive director. “Forgotten Harvest was founded 15 years ago with the goal of recovering 1,000 pounds of food. Thanks to the beautiful, fresh food that our donors provide, we help feed people who would otherwise go hungry, including frail seniors and children.”
Forgotten Harvest is the only organization in metro Detroit that recovers fresh food that would otherwise end up in landfills. It delivers the food free-of-charge to 119 neighborhood soup kitchens, pantries and shelters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
Donations grew to nearly 7-million pounds in 2005 partly due to the Kroger grocery chain’s commitment to donate food from all its stores in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. About 60 Kroger stores have joined the program so far. Once the entire tri-county Kroger store network is involved, Forgotten Harvest will be the nation’s most comprehensive food-rescue program.
Also involved in the effort are Nino Salvaggio, the fresh fruit and vegetable market chain, and U. S. Foodservice, a food distribution company, plus many other smaller businesses.
Catering companies also contributed excess food from recent holiday parties, which have fed people in the shelters served by Forgotten Harvest. Crank’s Catering and Banquet Center of Warren is the largest catering company that provides these gifts of nourishment.
To handle the increased food donations, Forgotten Harvest added five new refrigerated commercial trucks to its delivery fleet. Thanks to contributions from its donors, including one truck provided by DaimlerChrysler AG, the charity now has 10 refrigerated trucks and three vans. It also ensures that its recipient agencies have proper refrigeration equipment, and that the agencies’ workers have food-handling training.
Founded in 1990 and the third-largest food rescue organization in the country, Forgotten Harvest serves a unique role by delivering food – free of charge – to 119 neighborhood soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties.
More than 5.7 million pounds of food were rescued by Forgotten Harvest in 2004 from grocers, vegetable markets, farmers, retailers, wholesalers, caterers, dairies, bakeries and other resources that have been approved by local and county health departments. Additional information is available at: www. forgottenharvest. org.
Organization Contact
Sue Sherbow
Forgotten Harvest
Phone: 248-350-FOOD (3663)
Media Contact
Valerie Thurston
AutoCom Associates
Phone: 248-647-8621
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