LoDo Cares supports a number of organizations within LoDo, but I would also like to highlight other volunteer opportunities that may be of interest to our community. This month focuses on We Don’t Waste (We Don’t Waste).
We Don’t Waste works to reduce hunger and food waste in the Denver area by recovering quality, unused food from the food industry and delivering it to nonprofit partners, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, schools and daycare programs, and distributing it in various neighborhoods. According to We Don’t Waste, as much as 40 percent of all food goes unsold or uneaten in the United States. Instead of being consumed, this food ends up in a landfill, where it decomposes and releases methane — a greenhouse gas between 24 and 87 times more potent than CO2. This makes reducing food waste a one of the top three ways to reverse climate change. Hunger is also a huge problem in our community.
In fact, as many as 1 in 3 Coloradans are experiencing food insecurity — and the rate is even higher for people of color and households with children. We Don’t Waste is able to tackle both of these issues AND they make it so easy and flexible to volunteer.
I have worked at a number of the mobile food markets where we set up drive through food stations and load very high quality fresh and non-perishable food into people’s cars. There is an energy and enthusiasm among the volunteers and staff that is infectious. Cars generally start lining up 30 to 45 minutes in advance of the market and once the market opens, it is non-stop!
Why do I do it? I love supporting the dual mission of reducing food waste and personally interacting with our grateful “customers”. I also like the fast pace. At the December 7 market, I loaded 100+ 10 lb. bags of potatoes and earned the title of “Mrs. Potato Head”. Yes, I was sore but slept very well that night.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer with me to try it out, please contact me at kathy@gentryassociates.net or text or call me at 404.876.4480.
