Loaves & Fishes tackles two problems with one solution.
The local nonprofit operates as a food rescue, collecting excess food from grocery stores and other sites to deliver to over 100 agencies that help those in need. This process aims to eliminate food waste while addressing food insecurity in Greenville County.
“At the end of the day, it’s moving surplus food from where it’s not needed to where it is needed,” said Tessa May, executive director of Loaves & Fishes.
In 2023, Loaves & Fishes rescued approximately 2.7 million pounds of food. May said the amount is equivalent to more than $9 million worth of food redistributed into the community.
Minimize waste
Loaves & Fishes rescues perishable food such as produce, bread and meat that would go to landfills if unused or not purchased. The nonprofit picks up this food from grocery stores, restaurants and catering companies across the county.
“We have a rule with our drivers and our volunteers: if they pick up food and it’s not something that they would feed their own family, we don’t donate that food,” May said.
The food rescue operates seven days a week and utilizes a team of 300 volunteers, three full-time drivers and one part-time driver. Demarcus Vernon, a driver for Loaves & Fishes, said he completes two to six pickups each day, collecting up to 2,000 pounds of food.
“I come in contact with some of the people that I serve and that’s always good” he said. “It’s a good feeling just to know that I am helping them.”
Improve security
According to Loaves & Fishes, more than 60,850 people in Greenville County are food insecure. This means the person does not have enough to feed themselves or know where they will get their next meal.
Loaves & Fishes donates rescued food free of charge to organizations that help feed those in need. These agencies include local food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters. May said the organization also donates food to groups that address other societal issues such as domestic violence, mental health issues and prisoner-reentry programs.
In 2023, Loaves & Fishes rescued enough food to help serve 2.3 million meals to those who are considered food insecure, according to the Loaves & Fishes Impact Report 2023.
Four refrigerated trucks transport the food from the pickup sites to the nonprofit’s partner agencies. Loaves & Fishes is not a food pantry and does not store any food at its Greenville headquarters. May said the food is redistributed the same day it is picked up.
Strategic growth
Loaves & Fishes is completing a five-year strategic plan to expand its services into five underserved communities within Greenville County. May said the nonprofit has identified these communities using the food insecurity index created by Furman University and LiveWell Greenville’s Food Security Coalition.
“We identify the community that we could serve more deeply, and go into that community,” May said. “We talk to the stakeholders there. We talk to the people who serve as a voice for those communities — faith leaders, civic leaders — and find out what the need is.”
The food rescue focused on the Piedmont and Pelzer area in 2023 and helped create a food-donation hub in the community. Loaves & Fishes is currently focused on growing its impact within District 25, which is identified as a food desert. A food desert is an area where residents have limited access to fresh, healthy food.
As Loaves & Fishes operations continue to expand, May said the agency will also look to move into a larger office space in 2025.
“We’re in this heavy growth period and it’s exciting,” May said. “We really want to be able to say that we’re doing everything we can for Greenville County.”
Rescue sites
Tessa May, executive director of Loaves & Fishes, said the organization rescues food to donate to over 100 partner agencies in Greenville County. These include:
- Food pantries
- Soup kitchens
- Homeless shelters
- Low-income senior housing
- Nonprofit day care centers
- Schools
- Free medical clinics
By the numbers in 2023
- 2.7 million pounds of food was rescued
- $9.4 million worth of food was saved from landfills
- 2.3 million meals were able to be served from the rescued food
Source: Loaves & Fishes Impact Report
Food rescued
Loaves & Fishes rescued 2.7 million pounds of food in 2023:
- 31% produce
- 28% bread
- 16% prepared foods
- 8% nonperishables
- 7% dairy products
- 7% meat
- 3% frozen
