Rescue Mission

Discover the innovative ways two nonprofits are addressing hunger relief and reducing food waste.

By Kim Borges

In recognition of Earth Day, Regions is sharing a series of articles that highlight how teams and associates across the bank are contributing to our commitment to operate in environmentally sound ways that make life better for all.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 10, 2024 / The numbers are staggering.

Feeding America estimates more than 44 million Americans are considered food insecure, meaning they don't have enough to eat and don't know the source of their next meal; at the same time, 80 million tons of wasted food goes into landfills annually.

Unconsumed food equates to more than missed opportunities to nourish those who are hungry. It also generates significant carbon dioxide emissions from food handling, production and transportation plus methane emissions as it breaks down in landfills.

But there are solutions. Consider the work of two Regions Bank community partners that are doing their part to feed neighbors in need and promote sustainability and efficiency. We're highlighting their efforts here during Earth Week.

Indianapolis: Second Helpings Scores a Slam Dunk in Reducing Food Waste

The team at Second Helpings has shown they can put on a clinic about how to rescue tens of thousands of pounds of food from large-scale sporting events. So, when the National Basketball Association hosted its 2024 All-Star weekend in Indy in February, the league knew exactly who to turn to for an assist as its food rescue partner.

Since its 1998 founding, Second Helpings, a longtime Regions Bank community partner, has rescued more than 50 million pounds of food that would have otherwise gone into landfills. The Regions Foundation, a nonprofit funded primarily by Regions Bank, has also supported Second Helpings' Culinary Job Training program, which uses that same rescued food to help train adults facing barriers to gain employment as cooks, executive chefs, restaurateurs and more.

Second Helpings' NBA All-Star rescue netted 17,239 pounds of food toward those goals.

"We received a large mixture of raw, bulk produce, as well as salads, sandwiches, barbeque and various proteins," said Jon Meinert, Second Helpings' Food Rescue and Transportation director. "We were able to distribute all the individually packaged, prepared items within 24 hours, with the majority sent directly to our agency partners. Most of the other items were processed and utilized by our Hunger Relief team in our own meal preparation."