Up to 40% of all food produced in the US is wasted, yet in Miami-Dade County more than 1 in 10 people experienced food insecurity and hunger in 2025-26
Since launching in 2018, using our Food Rescue US app, we have rescued over 17 million pounds of edible food. In the communities we focus on; Overtown, Liberty City, Little Haiti, Homestead, Little Havana and Allapattah, 45-50% of residents are SNAP recipients. 60% are Seniors, 24% are working families with children and disabled individuals and all struggle to put food on the table. With housing, food, gas and healthcare costs skyyrocketing, more people than even are reaching out to us in search of food.
Local News10 joined us as we stocked the popup Food Pantry at the Greenhaven Project Urban Farm in Overtown.
Access to food is a basic need, and if it goes unmet, people experience physical and emotional consequences, including increased risk of chronic physical and mental health issues such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, depression, and anxiety. Food Rescue US - South Florida supports individuals and families in need by providing fresh, nutritious food directly to these communities through our respectful Farmers Market Food Distributions and deliver same day over 100 times a week to local agencies that are already integrated with the under-resourced communities that they serve.
Simultaneously, food waste is an environmental and climate crisis. Food that ends up in landfills and decomposes releases harmful methane which contributes to climate change. Food Waste has been identified as the #1 cause of climate change and global warming. Our model is unique because of the Food Rescue US app, our large volunteer base in South Florida, and our direct delivery model. These aspects of our model make it adaptable and enable us to rescue small to large amounts of food from an array of food donors, from bakeries, hotels and restaurants to convention centers, including rescuing 90,000+ lbs. of excess food from the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix the past three years at Hard Rock Stadium.
No warehouse. No Trucks. No Sorting.Instead we deliver directly and immediately to the local groups in need ensuring fresh and healthy food is delivered timely. The local community agency partners we provide for serve food insecure children, families, veterans, immigrants, the homeless, and seniors.
Part of our unique model is our Signature monthly "Farmers Market" Food Distributions, where we consolidate our food rescues and bring to one location and set up on covered tables, with coolers and tents and merchandise the food to represent a pop up grocer or Farmers Market. This respectful and dignified setting offers choice to attendees who are given a reusable shopping bag and allowed to select what they want. In 4 years, we have hosted over 45 of these respectful markets providing fresh rescued food for over 20,000 individuals.
Our passionate and reliable volunteers interact personally with the food donors, the receiving agencies and the food insecure recipients and build one one-on-one relationships that are inspiring and rewarding to all .
Giving Activity
Mission
Food Rescue US - South Florida is committed to reducing food waste and hunger in our community.
We help the environment by keeping food from decomposing in landfills. Using the Food Rescue US web-based app, we engage volunteers to transfer unused surplus food from local businesses to local social service agencies providing for the food insecure. Since launching in 2018, we have provided 17+ million meals to those in need and kept 185+ million pounds of excess food from going to landfills.
We partner with more than 200 food donors, 1100 volunteer food rescuers, and 45 agencies. Food donors include Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Beach Convention Center, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Milams Markets, The Fontainebleau Hotel, Marlins Stadium, and restaurants like MILA, Papi Steak, Macchialina and CHŌ.
Agency partners include Miami Rescue Mission, Lotus House Shelter, Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry, Village FREEdge, Buddy System, Gang Alternative, Allapattah Y, Camillus House, and Chapman Partnership.
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Organization Data
Summary
Organization name
Food Rescue US - South Florida
other names
Food Rescue US South Florida
Mission Category
Community Care
Program Site Locations
All of Miami-Dade County
Annual Operating Budget
$1,000,000 - $2,499,999
Primary Population Served
General Population, Homeless/Underhoused, Low-Income Individuals/Families