Rescuing Leftover Cuisine Inc.

Rescuing Leftover Cuisine Inc. (RLC) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing excess food and redistributing it to people experiencing food insecurity across the United States. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in New York City, RLC aims to combat food waste and hunger by connecting food donors with nonprofit organizations that serve vulnerable communities.

History and Mission

RLC was founded in the summer of 2013 by Robert Lee, who experienced food insecurity as a child and recognized the dual problems of wasted food and hunger in society. Lee, along with co-founder Louisa Chen, launched RLC initially in New York City after winning seed funding through a venture competition during their senior year at New York University. Lee left his full-time job at J.P. Morgan in 2014 to dedicate himself fully to the organization, with additional support from corporate donations including from his former employer. Since its inception, RLC has expanded to nine operational branches nationwide and has rescued over 18 million pounds of food[2].

Operations and Impact

Rescuing Leftover Cuisine operates by facilitating food rescue efforts that enable volunteers to collect excess food from donors—including restaurants, grocery stores, and corporate cafeterias—and deliver it to local nonprofit partners such as homeless shelters and soup kitchens. This approach reduces food waste and addresses food insecurity locally by sustaining self-sufficient community networks. The organization leverages technology to efficiently identify and manage surplus food and coordinates logistics to maximize impact[5].

As of recent reports, RLC has rescued over 18 million pounds of excess food, prevented more than 41 million pounds of carbon emissions, and provided over 15 million meals to people in need. Their efforts contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing food waste in the United States and support social equity by feeding those facing hunger[1].

Volunteer and Food Donation Programs

Volunteering with RLC involves transporting donated food from various donors to nonprofit organizations, allowing community members to actively participate in eradicating hunger and food waste. Food donors can contribute any type or amount of excess food on either a one-time or regular basis. The organization matches donors with the nearest operational branch to facilitate smooth and consistent food redistribution[3][4].

Strategic Vision

RLC continues to develop and expand its reach through strategic planning and community engagement. An upcoming presentation slated for October 2024 highlights their five-year strategic plan, which aims to double their impact and create a sustainable future where all excess food is donated rather than discarded[1].

Overall, Rescuing Leftover Cuisine Inc. represents a model of combining community action, technology, and social entrepreneurship to address the interconnected problems of food waste and hunger in the United States.

[1] https://www.rescuingleftovercuisine.org [2] https://www.rescuingleftovercuisine.org/about [3] https://www.rescuingleftovercuisine.org/volunteer [4] https://www.rescuingleftovercuisine.org/food-donor [5] https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit/27440be3a4ad4099975ba3ff8f5bb724-rescuing-leftover-cuisine-new-york