North Andover Food Rescue Project

Post date: Jan 31, 2017 5:55:14 PM

North Andover volunteers have implemented a Food Rescue program in 5 schools to date. Beginning in the Middle School last year and adding 4 of the elementary schools this fall, we are now collecting food that would otherwise have been discarded and distributing it to our community and the surrounding communities.

We have collection bins in the cafeterias next to the trash bins. We have asked the children simply to place the perfectly good food, that they would otherwise have thrown away, in the Food Rescue Collection bins instead. We have told all the staff and the children that this is only if they would have thrown it away instead. They are encouraged to eat what they have or bring it back home as best options. But, if they choose neither, we accept unopened packaged food, fruit, vegetables, milk, yogurt, cheese sticks, and even untouched food packed at home.

So where does it all go? The nurses in our schools have been thrilled to be able to provide healthy options to the kids that come to them hungry, ill, or if they need to eat or drink with medications. Our nurses, as always, are ever mindful of allergy and other health restrictions and choose what is appropriate for their situations.

Any food that doesn’t go to our nurses goes to a local food shelter or to the North Andover Youth Center.

The week before the holiday, we rescued 300 pounds of food from the garbage in addition to a case of milk and a case of chips that would have expired over the break. That means, in just that week, over 1,200 servings of food were saved and given to those in need as a result of the Food Rescue.

We are staffed mostly by volunteers and supported by the North Andover Schools Food Services. Volunteers pick up food from the elementary schools, bring it to the high school where it is sorted, and deliver boxes to Daybreak Shelter in Lawrence.

We are ready to expand our program to the remaining 2 schools in town and could really use some more help. The time commitment can be as little as 30 minutes as we have broken up each part of the service so one can do as little or as much as they can manage in any given day. If you are available to help, go to http://signup.com/go/hWwubv. We are happy to train you and give you all the direction you need. Any questions? Feel free to e-mail us at NAfoodrescue@gmail.com.

We’re so proud to be able to bring this program to North Andover but we can’t do it alone. Thank you so much for your support.