Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue
3 Million Pounds of Food Rescued - and Counting 
The amount of food rescued and delivered by Saving Grace now exceeds 3 million pounds. The nonprofit agency, which began operations on Sept. 30, 2013, reached the milestone earlier this year.

A banner year in 2018 - where Saving Grace rescued 905,765 pounds of healthy perishable food - contributed to reaching the 3 million mark earlier than anticipated. This 2018 total represents a 26.9% increase over 2017's total, and it is 9.6% over goal. Total value of the food donated in 2018 exceeds $1.5 million. And, it's 452 tons of food that was kept out of our landfills.

Addition of a new refrigerated truck and professional driver/food handler in early 2018 enabled Saving Grace to increase the amount of excess food collected and to add new partner nonprofit agencies that feed the hungry in our community.

Food was picked up from nearly 50 business locations last year, and Saving Grace delivered this healthy food, free of charge, to 35 local nonprofit agencies operating at 38 locations across the Omaha area.

Watch for the 2018 Impact Report that will be published this spring for an in-depth look at how Saving Grace, together with our supporters, made a difference in our community last year.

2019 Goals
  • Rescue and redistribute 1,290,000 pounds of surplus nutritious food
  • Partner with 55 scheduled food donors
  • Deliver the donated food to 45 nonprofit partner agencies
  • Continue to build momentum around the "no food waste" movement
FBI Honors Saving Grace with Community Leadership Award 

The FBI's Omaha Field Office has selected Saving Grace and founder Beth Ostdiek Smith as a recipient of the 2018 Director's Community Leadership Award for contributions to the Omaha community.

Beth was recognized by Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Randall Thysse and other FBI officials on Feb. 25. In May, Beth will attend a ceremony at the FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she, along with recipients from across the country, will be presented with the award by FBI Director Christopher Wray.

The award recognizes Saving Grace for redirecting food destined from landfills into the hands of those who need it.

Read the FBI Omaha Field Office's  press release on the award .
Visit Saving Grace's New Website

Check out Saving Grace's new website at www.savinggracefoodrescue.org . Watch the homepage for updates each month on food donation totals and current news. The website also includes lists of food donors and food recipient agencies, information on the "no food waste" movement and much more.

Special thanks to the Iridian Group and its talented staff for designing the website and underwriting a portion of the cost.


Saving Grace Launches New Food for Thought Event 
Anna Curry talks about food expiration dates.

Saving Grace kicked off a new quarterly informational session on Feb. 12 that's designed to introduce community members to the organization, our vision and how we work toward it every day.

Food expert Anna Curry, MS, RD, talked about about food expiration dates and how they are often misunderstood, and CEO and founder Beth Ostdiek Smith provided an overview of Saving Grace and its mission.

The next Food for Thought event will be April 24 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Enterprise Center, 96th and L streets. Brent Crampton from Hillside Solutions will talk about the neighborhood composting program. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Tracy at tracy@savinggracefoodrescue.org or  402-202-5405.


Saving Grace in the Community
 
Wednesday, March 13 - Green Omaha Coalition's Rapid Roundtable. Saving Grace is one of 14 local organizations that will participate in the roundtable with the theme "Green Spring Clean." Organizations will have 3 minutes and 20 seconds to make their presentations. Board member Erik Bird will represent Saving Grace.  The event takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at The Slowdown, 729 North 14th Street. The event is free to attend. Find out more .
 
Saturday, April 13 - Earth Day Omaha. Visit Saving Grace's booth at Earth Day Omaha and learn ways you can be part of our "no food waste" movement by reducing food waste in your own life and in our community. Join us for fun activities and visit with our team to learn more about Saving Grace's impact on hunger and food waste in our community.
Earth Day takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Elmwood Park. Learn more.

Food insecurity is a huge issue in Douglas County. I'm impressed with what Saving Grace has accomplished in a short time to rescue perfectly good food for those in need instead of having it thrown away. Thousands of people have been provided with nutritious food because of the efforts of Saving Grace. I have made Saving Grace a priority for me to spend my limited volunteer time.

Vic Gutman, Advisory Council Member 
Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue | www.savinggracefoodrescue.org
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