Thanks to Whole Foods Market’s Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program, we welcomed a refrigerated electric van into our fleet and hosted a Mobile Market event–one of six free mobile pantry events held across the U.S. on October 8th, 2024.
Food Recovery and Distribution is the foundational program of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and continues to be essential throughout our communities to ensure that our neighbors receive the food they need to thrive. Every week, Monday through Friday, our trucks are out on the roads. From picking up food from our retail partners to stocking up pantries at our schools, they travel for miles each day, ensuring our community is nourished at every stop.
Due to the number of miles driven daily, increasing maintenance costs, and rising food prices, the newest refrigerated electric van donated by Whole Foods Market provides a crucial boost to our operations. This new vehicle will allow us to maintain and expand partnerships with retailers—including Whole Foods Market—and enhance deliveries to community partners. Most food we recover from retail partners is immediately redistributed, so reliable, refrigerated vehicles are essential for ensuring food safety and operational efficiency.
Beyond the van donation, Whole Foods Market hosted a Mobile Market event, a powerful demonstration of community collaboration. With a goal of serving 500 families, we were able to provide fresh produce and pantry staples to our neighbors. This event showcased the impact of Whole Foods Market’s support and the dedication of our team and volunteers.
We are deeply grateful to Whole Foods Market for their generosity and vision. Their commitment to reducing food waste and increasing food access aligns closely with our mission. With this new van, we can expand our reach, rescue more food, and serve more families.
Thank you, Whole Foods Market, for joining Inter-Faith Food Shuttle in the fight against hunger. Together, we can nourish our communities and make a lasting difference.