In our land of plenty, it’s shameful that 96 billion pounds of food go to waste every year, while 36 million Americans struggle to get enough to eat. In Kansas City alone, more than 60,000 people seek emergency food assistance each week. This while food and fuel prices soar, and chronic, diet-driven illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease are on the rise, especially in the poorest populations.
For 30 years, The Society of St. Andrew has been saving produce that would otherwise be wasted, and distributing it to food banks and agencies serving people who might otherwise go hungry. Although its work is nationwide, the majority of SoSA’s efforts have been focused east of the Mississippi River. On May 15, 2008, Kansas City became SoSA’s gateway to the West with the opening of its new Western Headquarters, located at Harvesters – The Community Food Network. SoSA West is working to dramatically increase the amount and variety of fresh fruits and vegetables provided to food banks and critical feeding agencies west of the Mississippi, starting with five million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to Harvesters in our first year of operation.
By partnering with Harvesters and other food banks across the western region of the U.S., SoSA West works to enhance, not duplicate their efforts, while increasing the nutritional value of meals being served to people in need. It is important to emphasize that the bulk of the produce is retrieved outside of the Kansas City area, where Harvesters is unable to recruit produce donors. This is one of the many ways SoSA West complements and does not compete with Harvesters’ efforts.
SoSA West works with farmers, growers and produce packing houses to salvage produce that is left in the field or that has been graded-out because it’s not attractive enough for retailers. Our mission is simple yet compelling – reduce the waste of good produce and help feed hungry, often chronically ill people. Fresh produce is a valued commodity to organizations that traditionally receive dry, canned and processed foods.
SoSA is proud to call Kansas City home for its Western Headquarters. If you would like to find out how you can help feed people in your community, please call 816-921-0856.
