The USDA found that one in eight Americans suffer from food insecurity, which is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food to be healthy, usually due to finances not being consistent or a lack of access to healthy meals. In 2021 alone, 12.5% of households with families, including children, reportedly suffered from food insecurity. In Omaha alone, one (1) in five (5) kids go to bed hungry every night. This is a problem that affects Americans of all income levels across the country and can negatively impact people of all ages. That’s why the Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue in Omaha is here to shrink the gap, and help more Americans be fed.

The Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue is a nonprofit organization that is feeding the hungry while also fighting against food waste. Founded in 2013 by Beth Ostdiek Smith, Saving Grace delivers food to shelters, food pantries, senior centers, after-school programs, and nonprofit agencies. Their organization takes perishable food from restaurants, grocers, delis, and food vendors that is good, but not able to be sold for various reasons, and makes sure it doesn’t get simply thrown out by delivering it on the same day to those in need.

Not only is Saving Grace feeding the hungry, but they are also fighting against food waste, which is a major issue across the United States. The USDA estimates that between thirty-forty (30-40) percent of our food supply is thrown away, with food waste taking up the most space in landfills across the country. We waste 1.4 billion tons of food every year, and this is anything from food past the expiration date, food that can’t be resold, or produce that is aesthetically undesirable by grocery stores. Produce, grain products, and dairy are the most wasted every year. For a family of four, they can end up wasting $600 of groceries every year. As of September, Saving Grace has already saved 625,487 lbs of food, and are well on their way to their goal for the year of 1,035,000 lbs.

Saving Grace will be partnering with The Stephen Center to host the Omaha Hunger Experience, a part of Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, on November 10th from 3:30pm-6pm at the American National Bank at 8990 W Dodge Rd. They will be handing out take-home experience kits, which contain a heat-and-eat gourmet meal for four (4), one poverty meal, and an activity to explore issues of hunger and homelessness in the Metro. For more information on the event, you can go to savinggraceperishablefood.ticketspice.com/omaha-hunger-experience-2022.

If you would like to help Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue, you can donate financially on their website at savinggracefoodrescue.org, or through AmazonSmile. You can also speak to restaurants and grocery stores in your area to have them contribute their excess food to Saving Grace’s cause. The criteria for their food donations are: food must feed at least twenty (20) people; food must be properly maintained (i.e. refrigerated or frozen); and give advanced warning of any donations, as Saving Grace does not have storage, and delivers the donated food same-day. Just last year alone, forty-two (42) different companies partnered with Saving Grace to donate their excess food, many with multiple locations.

For more information about Saving Grace, you can go to their website at savinggracefoodrescue.org. You can donate financially at donatenow.networkforgood.org/savinggracefoodrescue.