Salvation Army shelter residents rescue and deliver food to those in need

Residents of a San Diego Salvation Army shelter were tasked with an important mission two years ago: to save food across the San Diego area that would otherwise have ended up in landfill.

Since then, these food rescue road drivers have rescued and delivered more than 500,000 pounds of perfectly viable food to those in need, Lucky Duck Foundation executive director Drew Moser told Fox News.

The entire initiative is funded by the Lucky Duck Foundation, which has been working to alleviate the suffering of San Diego County’s homeless population since 2017.

Moser said the foundation funds, activates and runs collaborative programs that « make a difference. »

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In 2020, the foundation partnered with The Salvation Army and Feeding San Diego to leverage each other’s strengths and do just that.

Feed San Diego has a long history of rescuing high-quality foods throughout the region.

« Feeding San Diego saves high-quality food before it goes to waste at more than 400 locations across San Diego County and more than 225 farms and packing sheds throughout California, » according to the website. organization.

Meanwhile, The Salvation Army has a « desire to connect residents of their shelter to meaningful employment opportunities, » Moser said.

It seemed like the perfect solution.

San Diego nonprofits are teaming up to save viable food that would have been wasted and deliver it to those in need.
(Brian Hayes, Lucky Duck Foundation)

For the past two years, the Salvation Army in downtown San Diego has paid some of its residents $16 an hour to become food rescue drivers to help them gain work experience.

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They are trained to operate the routes provided by Feeding San Diego and save food before it goes to waste.

They stop at grocery stores and warehouses in San Diego, such as Costco, Smart & Final, Starbucks, and Amazon, and drop it off at Salvation Army shelters in downtown San Diego and Escondido, as well as Oceanside in North San Diego County.

San Diego nonprofits are teaming up to save viable food that would have been wasted and deliver it to those in need.
(Brian Hayes, Lucky Duck Foundation)

The goal, according to Moser, is to give them enough experience, so they can eventually afford their own housing and even get a full-time job.

Moser said in many ways this program is a « stepping stone, » preparing them « for bigger and better things down the road. »

So far it has proven itself.

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« A year ago today I needed these services and now I am able to provide these services to others. And I am able to support my family, » said Emiliano, a food rescue driver, to Fox News.

San Diego nonprofits are teaming up to save viable food that would have been wasted and deliver it to those in need.
(Brian Hayes, Lucky Duck Foundation)

To date, the 10 Salvation Army residents who have participated in the program have not only secured full-time employment, but have also found their own homes.

« Coming from the streets, I know what it’s like to be depressed and now I can help people who are in this place, » another driver named Daniel told Fox News. « It’s a double bonus because this program gave me housing and a job. »

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The Lucky Duck Foundation initially donated $1 million to the program.

However, since it has generated such good results, they plan to invest an additional $1 million to expand the program.