Metro Caring is launching a food waste reduction campaign

It kicks off at the organization's annual fundraiser, Cornucopia, on Sept. 28.

ColoradoBiz Staff //September 22, 2016//

Metro Caring is launching a food waste reduction campaign

It kicks off at the organization's annual fundraiser, Cornucopia, on Sept. 28.

ColoradoBiz Staff //September 22, 2016//

Metro Caring, Denver’s leading hunger-prevention organization, will launch the city’s largest-ever food waste reduction campaign at its annual fundraiser, Cornucopia, on Sept. 28.

Metro Caring will be joined by Denver International Airport (DEN) and the City of Denver as it launches this campaign at 5 p.m. at the Space Gallery. In addition to the campaign launch, Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock will present DEN with Metro Caring’s “Hungry for Change” Award, for its leadership in food sustainability.

Earlier this year, the airport launched a food waste donation program in which participating DEN partners donate excess prepared entrees, side dishes, prepackaged salads and sandwiches, sealed beverages, condiment packets, canned goods and other items that are then picked up by Metro Caring for distribution to food-insecure families. Since its launch, more than 22,200 pounds of food have been donated.

In addition to this donation partnership, DEN is a coalition partner in Metro Caring’s food waste campaign. Other coalition partners will be announced at Cornucopia.

Dana Gunders, Senior Scientist at the National Resources Defense Council, will also speak at the launch. One of the nation’s leading experts on food waste, Ms. Gunders has authored “Wasted: How America is Losing Up to 40% of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill” and Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook.

Metro Caring will also welcome the media to visit its state-of-the-art facility on Monday, Sept. 26 and Tuesday, Sept. 27. Members of the press will be able to tour Metro Caring’s Fresh Foods Market, fully automated greenhouse, food reclamation warehouse, job-training division and more.  In addition, Mayor Michael B. Hancock, an executive from Denver International Airport and Dana Gunders will be available for interviews at Cornucopia on Sept. 28.

About Metro Caring

Metro Caring is Denver’s leading frontline hunger-prevention organization. Simultaneously fighting hunger and promoting sustainability, Metro Caring annually receives and redistributes over 2.3 million pounds of nutritious food (72 percent fresh), a majority of which would otherwise have gone to waste. Metro Caring’s holistic approach to ending hunger includes a free, fresh-foods market, nutrition and gardening education, and tools for self-sufficiency such as the Seeds for Success job-training program, financial literacy education and state-wide ID procurement. More than 300 weekly volunteers contribute to daily operations.