Daily Bowl

Overview

Daily Bowl is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing food waste and alleviating hunger within local communities. Founded in 2016 by Paddy Iyer and Lance Nishihira, Daily Bowl aims to address the dual problems of food insecurity and food surplus in the Bay Area, particularly focusing on the Tri-City region of Fremont, Union City, and Newark.

Mission

The organization's mission is straightforward: to prevent food waste and feed those in need. It achieves this by recovering surplus edible food from various sources, including farmers' markets, farms, grocery stores, restaurant distributors, and institutional kitchens. This surplus food is then promptly redistributed to a network of local agencies, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and social service centers, which serve vulnerable populations.

History

Daily Bowl was conceived during a period of significant legal change, allowing for the redistribution of excess food from retailers and kitchens. Since its inception, Daily Bowl has successfully diverted more than 5 million pounds of edible food from landfills, instead delivering it to those facing food insecurity.

Impact

The organization's work is particularly impactful in the Tri-City area, where nearly 30% of the population lives below the poverty line and struggles with accessing fresh food. By rescuing surplus produce and prepared meals, Daily Bowl not only reduces waste but also provides culturally relevant food to diverse families, helping to bridge the gap between available resources and community need.

Partnerships and Funding

Daily Bowl relies on grants and donations to fulfill its mission. It has received support from organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, Alameda County, StopWaste.org, and the Fouche Foundation. The organization is governed by a board of directors composed of experienced leaders in business, fundraising, and civic affairs.

Programs and Initiatives

In addition to food recovery and distribution, Daily Bowl is exploring initiatives to educate recipients on how to prepare and use the food they receive, recognizing that simply providing food does not always solve the problem if recipients lack the knowledge to prepare it. The organization offers informal cooking demonstrations and plans to implement comprehensive cooking classes to address this gap.