Local Effort Keeps Food out of Landfills and into Organizations

Food Bank Truck Rescues Expired Food

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“We start with an empty truck and we go back with an empty truck that’s the goal,” Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank Food Rescue Driver Jeremy Pike said.

Three days a week Pike drives the Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank rescue truck.

“It feels good,” said Pike. “It’s probably one of the hardest most rewarding jobs.”

He picks up perishable food items at the end of their shelf life.

“Some of the dates might be today or very soon that aren’t gonna sale,” said Pike.

Instead of being thrown away local grocery stores, businesses and schools donate the food to Second Harvest.

“Which then we can in turn deliver to agencies, food shelves and soup kitchens around the area,” said Pike.

Those organizations use it to fill their shelves and feed others.

“It’s a great way to get the food out to the community, to people who need it.”

On average Second Harvest saves about 2,500 pounds of food a day from going into the landfills.

On Saturday the Vineyard Church in Duluth took in almost 600 pounds of
fresh produce, meat and baked goods.

“That’s giving people some fresh produce and some meat that they otherwise wouldn’t be getting so it’s a huge benefit to them,” Duluth Vineyard Fruit of the Vine Food Shelf Leader Jay Yeakle said.

Fruit of the Vine Food Shelf serves about 500 families a month.

“Anybody who is in need of food,” said Yeakle. “There’s no requirement other than we get their i.d. when they come in,” said Yeakle.

The refrigerated food rescue truck helps the church fill in any gaps in their pantry and provide more options.

“A lot of people leave here with a big smile on their face it’s fantastic,” said Yeakle.

After about 20 minutes of unloading at Fruit of the Vine Pike is off to his next pick-up and delivery.

“It’s hard, physically demanding,” said Pike. “But at the end of the day I did something.