Clean Memphis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability across the Mid-South, and its program聽Project Green Fork聽announced that it has reached a milestone of rescuing 250,000 pounds of surplus food since joining聽Careit, a national free food donation and rescue app that connects businesses with nonprofits. Through Careit, Project Green Fork has provided more than 200,000 meals to those in need thanks to 2,500 donations from local restaurants, grocers, hotels, universities, and event venues.
According to Feeding America, approximately 15.9% of Shelby County residents face food insecurity, a rate that is higher than the national average. This challenge is especially acute for families with limited incomes, children in under-resourced schools, and senior residents with little access to nutritious, affordable food.
While some local venues were already donating surplus food, efforts were often inconsistent and bogged down by the logistics of coordinating and tracking donations. To address this gap, Project Green Fork performed a landscape assessment of local nonprofits tackling food insecurity. The findings underscored the need for a centralized platform that could streamline donations and reliably track where food was going.
In August 2023, Clean Memphis selected Careit as its rescue software partner for its Project Green Fork surplus food donation program. This shift has helped staff spend less time on administration and data collection, providing significant cost savings and expanding access to a wider geographic area 鈥� helping more Memphians gain access to fresh, wholesome meals.
Looking ahead, Clean Memphis plans to continue the partnership with Careit to feed more Memphians in need. The organizations are also exploring new rescue pilot programs that would allow donations, even as small as a single meal, to be connected directly to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.