KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Waste not. Want not. One metro food bank is raking in donations, encouraging restaurants to share unwanted and unused meals.
Once per week, Harvesters food bank visits restaurants, like a Longhorn Steakhouse in KCK. During those visits, donated items are given by the restaurants to the agency and leftover meals turn into essential goods for people in need.
The goal of Harvesters’ food rescue program is to not waste a bite.
Restaurant manager Brian White has worked in the hospitality business for close to 30 years. Rather than to throw out useful leftovers, White’s kitchen donates them to Harvesters, which in turn, takes the food to more than 40 shelters across the metro.
“Hunger doesn’t go away. It’s there every day,” White said. “It’s really neat that we do this on a weekly basis and we continue this throughout the year. ”
Ellen Feldhausen says the community needs these donations. She said harvesters collected 600,000 pounds of food from restaurants last year.
“If you wonder if donations like this one make a difference? They make a huge difference to the health and welfare of our community,” Feldhausen said.
Proof that small donations can add up fast.