City of Columbia Food Policy Committee launches food recovery app
March 15, 2018
The City of Columbia Food Policy Committee will launch a food recovery app in partnership with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control’s (DHEC) Don’t Waste Food SC initiative and Food Rescue US on March 19.
“Since the creation of the first municipal food policy committee in the state, we’ve been committed to addressing the most chronic needs of our residents as they relate to food,” said Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. “The Food Rescue US app will provide residents, local business owners, restaurant owners and non-profit organizations with the opportunity to address two major issues at once: food security and food waste. As we progress toward becoming a smarter city, technology like the one found in this app will allow us to create solutions that promote sustainability in our city.”
Bourbon Columbia is one of the first restaurants to register and pledge their excess food to be donated instead of being thrown away. Olivia Reszczynski, student at the University of South Carolina, registered through the free app as a volunteer to deliver the food from the restaurants to the receiving agency – the first delivery will go to Oliver Gospel Mission on Monday, March 19th.
DHEC supports the food policy committee and this program.
To join the City’s initiative in connecting food resources and reducing food waste, download the free app and register to become a donor, transporter or receiving agency.
About City of Columbia’s Food Policy Committee:
The City of Columbia established the Food Policy Committee in April 2017 and is the first municipal and government-appointed food policy committee in South Carolina. The committee is addressing problems found within the food system in Columbia and the surrounding areas by educating government officials about the issues, making policy recommendations, researching, fostering of cooperation among private, public, and non-profit interests. Find more information on Facebook @ColaFPC or www.columbiasc.net.
About Don’t Waste Food SC:
Don’t Waste Food SC is a collaborative campaign with a joint partnership between S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and the S.C. Department of Commerce actively bringing together stakeholders from across the public and private sector to help reduce food waste in the state. The campaign is designed to increase awareness of the economic, environmental and social impacts of food waste and inspire individuals, businesses, schools and communities to take action through waste reduction, donation and composting. Find more information at www.scdhec.gov/dontwastefoodsc .
About the Food Rescue US App:
The Food Rescue US app is designed and managed by Food Rescue US. The City of Columbia is the first to implement this program in South Carolina – Food Rescue US has chapters in nine other states. The app is free to download from the App Store or Google Play and connects food donors, transporters and receiving agencies through the on-demand scheduling system. Find more information at https://foodrescue.us.
