More than a decade ago, a few members of a temple in metro Atlanta set out to solve two of Atlanta’s most pressing issues: hunger and food waste. They conceptualized a plan where they could “rescue” leftover food from restaurants and grocery stores and deliver it to people who needed it most.

What was once a baby idea is now a growing nonprofit called Second Helpings Atlanta with 62 donors, 31 partner agencies and more than 350 volunteer drivers who pick up the food and deliver for distribution. Through September of this year alone, Second Helpings Atlanta has delivered 962,635 pounds of food and the nonprofit’s executive director, Joe Labriola, estimates that it will deliver more than 1.3 million pounds by the end of the year.

Within the broader issue of hunger, Labriola hopes to bring more awareness to the issues of food nutrition among food insecure people who mostly eat processed, non-perishable foods.

“The reason we’re so focused on perishable food is that we’re providing nutrition to the diets of people who are surviving on processed food,” Labriola says. “We’re breaking the cycle and hope that some of the health benefits of fresh food will start to kick in.”

Second Helpings Atlanta has created a proven track record of success and now other groups across the country have asked for its help to start similar programs in their communities.

In order to create even more impact, Second Helpings Atlanta needs assistance from volunteers and supporters and is hosting its very first fundraiser called “Taste of The Trucks” on Nov. 12 to support its continued growth and the important work it does in Atlanta.

To get involved in this fundraiser, visit click here.

Read the full article here.