Feeding America® announced today that MealConnect®, its food donation platform, has facilitated five billion pounds of food rescued since its launch in 2014. In 2022 alone, MealConnect supported the network in rescuing over one billion meals for neighbors facing hunger.
Feeding America developed MealConnect as a solution for the nation’s charitable food system, allowing partner food banks to coordinate and receive donations from their local food businesses and grocers. Any restaurant, caterer, local grocery chain, hotel, independent food distribution company, ag producer, and other community food business can use the no-cost platform to donate surplus meals – making MealConnect the only food rescue technology available nationwide. MealConnect supports more than 90% of Feeding America’s partners, which benefit from the program’s rescued food.
“As a network of more than 200 partner food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, Feeding America is well-positioned to connect businesses that have surplus food to people in need of assistance,” said Maryann Byrdak, Chief Information Officer for Feeding America. “Through the MealConnect system, we’ve reached a remarkable milestone by rescuing more than five billion pounds of food, a number that will continue to grow as the platform’s technology evolves. Our hope is for grocers, food companies, and ag producers to continue to adopt MealConnect and help us provide rescued food to millions of people facing hunger.”
To further support retail rescue efforts, Feeding America recently launched a completely refreshed MealConnect mobile app. The app introduces a new chat functionality between food banks, pantries, meal programs and retail donors. Through pilot programs with national retailers, Feeding America aims to decrease wait times and enhance communication across the charitable food system. By facilitating food arrival notifications and streamlining communication, Feeding America looks to empower food banks and their partners to rescue more food efficiently.
Product donations made through MealConnect are tax-deductible. Food businesses interested in donating can visit https://mealconnect.org/ to donate today. The MealConnect app is also available for free download in both the iOS App and Google Play stores.
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About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.3 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
