Where Some Saw Waste, Cultivate Saw Need

With all the wind and blather coming from DC – and elsewhere – these days, it's always nice to read a story where people are actually doing some good for their fellow man.

Food waste drives me crazy. I do my best to shop for what we need, buy portions that will serve their purpose for what we're making that week, and keep an eye on the fridge in case any excess or leftovers can be frozen before they go bad.

But things happen. Within the last few days we've tossed two-thirds of a bag of kale that was getting limp and watery, some slices of bread that had more mold on them than I was willing to scrape off/overlook, and a block of cheese that looked like it had been aged in some European cave.

And those last four strawberries nobody wants to eat probably need to go in the smoothie fruit bag I keep in the freezer.

At one Indiana elementary school, the issue of food waste was turned into a solution for children, and families, at need.

The food rescue non-profit Cultivate stepped in to assist the supervisor of student services at an Indiana elementary school. Now, food that would have previously been wasted gets repurposed into frozen meals that students in need can take home for the weekend.

Cultivate takes leftovers to its facilities, where a small staff and group of volunteers compile them into meals that include a protein, a vegetable, and a starch. They’re packaged in recyclable containers and frozen to maintain freshness, then placed in backpacks that are distributed by school officials to students in the program.

Check out the whole story here and don't forget to think about how you can make a difference in your community. – Dan Taylor

Dan Taylor is the editor/publisher of The Hungover Gourmet and needs to get off his butt and do some volunteer work.