“Fill plates, not landfills” is the slogan printed on volunteers’ shirts from Food Rescue US-North Fork. It puts the organization’s massive effort to promote sustainability while supporting community needs into four simple words.
Anne Howard and Stephanie McEvily lead the North Fork chapter of the national organization fighting food insecurity by connecting food donors with social service agencies through volunteer “rescuers” serving as middlemen.
Year-round, with the help of the North Fork Food Rescue app, Howard and McEvily arrange for about 25 local volunteers to pick up from over 25 regular donors, including farms and farm stands in the warmer months and bakeries and bagel shops in the winter, that are looking to donate their excess produce and baked goods. The volunteers then deliver these goods to local food banks and pantries around the North Fork.
“The volunteers are just the most amazing people,” McEvily says. “The way they step up when they’re needed, they’re just great folks.”
Maria Fedele, director of the North Fork Parish Outreach at St. Agnes Church in Greenport, coordinates with Food Rescue US-North Fork. She spoke in support of the organization at a Cutchogue Civic meeting educating the public on the importance of turning excess food into a resource.
“We receive no government funding and completely rely on the compassion and generosity of local people, caring people, nearby churches and community organizations,” says Fedele.
She says the demand for food donations on the North Fork is growing and the supply does not match the need. In hopes of matching the demand, this summer the North Fork chapter picked up almost 50 food rescues.
While the organization receives many farm fresh vegetable donations, they also accept prepared sandwiches and salads from Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, among other pre-packaged donations from local gas stations.
“All of the food is edible but it’s just excess,” says Howard. “And if it weren’t for us, they’d throw it in the garbage.”
Unlike other organizations attempting to combat food insecurity, Food Rescue US-North Fork does not receive donations from big box stores but instead works with mom-and-pop stores and locally owned businesses. It’s very rare that food is held overnight, as most of the time volunteers bring it directly to agencies.
Two of the North Fork’s biggest donors in the Food Rescue system are Golden Acres Organic Farm and the North Fork Shack, each bringing unique products to the mouths of those in need.
Maria Pietromonaco, who started the North Fork’s chapter of the organization, is the volunteer assigned to Golden Acres (she also wrote a recent story for Northforker on the farm here), where she picks up produce and delivers it to determined locations to meet the demand.
“It is very important to me that it leaves in good condition,” says Kelly Brennan, owner and farmer at Golden Acres. “It should be edible, beautiful food that is donated.”
Sami Sabil, owner and chef at North Fork Shack, turns any surplus food he has from the week into packaged meals for individuals.
“We don’t want to call it leftover food,” says Sabil.
Each dish contains a protein, carb and vegetable. One of his most recent dishes was an angel hair pasta with Swiss chard, shitake mushrooms and grilled chicken.
While he taps into his talent for feeding others, he says he appreciates that Food Rescue does the hardest part of transferring the dishes to where they are needed most.
Despite the organization’s remote operation, Food Rescue US-North Fork holds occasional volunteer meet and greets.
To get involved in the organization, to become a volunteer or donor, or to find out about being an agency, visit here.
