Catholic Charities of South Georgia is doing its part to help the environment by reducing waste and turning would-be losses into valuable gains for people in our community.

“We rescue food,” says Executive Director Latacia Avila. “So, instead of ending up in the dumpster, it ends up on the tables of families in need.”

The food rescue program is coordinated through Second Harvest, a Savannah food bank, which arranges partnerships with local grocery stores that agree to provide participating agencies with donated food items – primarily unfrozen meats and produce – that are near the end of the store’s timeframe for sale to consumers.

“Without this food rescue program, the produce and meat that the stores don’t sell would be thrown in the trash,” explains Avila. “So, what we do is we go in, we pick it up and bring it back here to our food pantry, where it can be quickly distributed to families in need.”

The rescued meats that have been collected are placed in a freezer, while the fruits and vegetables are kept in refrigerated storage at Catholic Charities’ food pantry. Clients also have a choice of nonperishable items donated by generous individuals, civic groups, and Catholic schools or parishes in the Savannah area.

But unlike other food pantries, where needy families are simply given prepacked bags, Catholic Charities operates a “client choice” food pantry, in which the people it serves enjoy a more dignified experience, while actually shopping for items they need, just like in a grocery store.

“When people have the power of selecting the food items for their families, you don’t get the waste,” says Avila. “They’re able to actually choose what their family will eat.

You don’t have people sifting through bags, saying, ‘I’m allergic to this’ or ‘I have enough of that,’ and because we’re incorporating the fruits, the vegetables, the meat – and not just the nonperishables – they’re able to supplement beyond the basics and also benefit from a healthier diet.”

Avila says it’s obvious that the food rescue program has improved the quality of Catholic Charities’ food pantry and the organization’s continued efforts to serve the community. At the same time, she also recognizes how the program is helping to improve the environment.

“I don’t think people realize, but [approximately] 40% of food in the state of Georgia ends up in landfills. People don’t realize that, but that’s the statistic. So, we’re taking food that is still good, that’s going to end up in the dumpster, and we’re putting it on the tables of households that are really struggling to make ends meet.”

For more information about Catholic Charities of South Georgia, or to find out how you can help with its ongoing mission to serve those in need, visit ccsoga.org.

Ways to Reduce Food Waste

1. Only buy what you will actually eat.
2. Keep a chart of expiration dates for items after opening, and write the date you opened it on the package.
3. Learn to preserve food through canning, freezing, and dehydrating, being sure to follow proper safety protocols so you don’t end up with botulism or food that isn’t shelf-stable.
4. Donate food to places that need it (please donate only the items they request, making sure food is not expired or damaged).
5. Know where your food comes from; understanding how much work goes into producing it makes it harder to waste.
6. Get creative with using up leftovers.
7. Be careful when transporting or delivering food not to damage the package.
8. Keep your kitchen or pantry organized, keep dry goods in airtight containers, and keep food in a cool, dry place as much as possible while keeping food items in stock.