CONCORD – White Pony Specific goals to finish meals insecurity within the East Bay by discovering methods to deliver surplus, but high-quality, meals to these in want of nutritious sustenance.
Since 2013, it has been working to supply surplus meals from operators comparable to grocery shops, eating places, farmers markets and wholesalers. The East Bay nonprofit believes it could actually slowly turn out to be a kind of organizations that may make a distinction within the battle towards starvation.
“We attempt to join the abundance of meals in Contra Costa County with those that are in nice want of wholesome, nutritious meals,” stated Eve Birge, govt director of White Pony Specific.
With some economists suggesting that the meals provide is plentiful, a key resolution to combating starvation is discovering methods to get obtainable merchandise to these most in want.
“By the White Pony Specific Meals Rescue Program, we clear up the logistical problem meals markets face (what to do with surplus recent meals) by rescuing and delivering it,” the nonprofit says.
The Harmony-based nonprofit has created a community to make these connections extra environment friendly.
“Our Meals Rescue Program recovers a each day common of 12,000 kilos of high-quality meals from grocery shops, farmers markets, eating places and wholesalers,” the nonprofit states on its web site.
All recent meals donations are supplied freed from cost, in keeping with White Pony Specific. The nonprofit group operates seven days per week.
“We customise every supply to match the preferences of 98 nonprofit recipients,” the group states.
In 2013, Dr. Carol Weyland Conner, psychologist, trainer, and non secular director of Sufism Reoriented, an American non secular college, based White Pony Specific.
Conner, who died in 2023, launched the nonprofit out of concern that, regardless of the nation's bountiful harvests, hundreds of individuals are hungry and much more are battling unhealthy or insufficient diets.
“The thought is to offer meals to those that don't have the assets,” Birge stated. “We attempt to rescue all kinds of meals, something that may in any other case go within the dumpster or objects which might be near their expiration date.”
White Pony Specific additionally appears to be like for obtainable meals from uncommon sources, comparable to culinary colleges.
“We wish anybody who has surplus meals to learn about us and our pickup providers,” Birge stated. “This fashion, much less meals is thrown away and rots in landfills.”
The nonprofit additionally attends farmers markets in Brentwood, Walnut Creek, Moraga and Harmony to search out extra meals sources.
“Farmers come to those markets from throughout, together with the Central Valley,” Birge stated. “Each time we go to a farmers market, there are most likely 10 to 12 produce distributors supplying us with meals.”
After gathering surplus meals, the nonprofit's employees and volunteers take it to their distribution facilities.
“Volunteers type the meals to ensure it's the very best high quality,” Birge stated. “We type it based mostly on the preferences of the folks receiving the meals that day.”
The Antioch Unified College District is among the many beneficiaries of the nonprofit's efforts to deliver meals to these in want. Lindsay Lopez-Properly, the district's director of secondary schooling, believes White Pony Specific is making a major distinction.
“We’re seeing extra struggles for households lately, with inflation and excessive meals costs,” López-Properly stated. “We’re very grateful for our partnership with White Pony Specific.”
The nonprofit's meals efforts additionally draw reward from recipients comparable to Antioch colleges due to their high quality.
“Meat, bread, greens, eggs, there may be a lot selection that we get via White Pony Specific,” Lopez-Properly stated. “The meals is recent and of very prime quality. “A whole lot of it’s natural and wholesome.”
White Pony Specific has arrange college pantries at 16 areas in Contra Costa County. No less than 80% of scholars qualify without spending a dime or reduced-price lunches via the pantries, which function on the college campus a few times per week.
“I do know what my daughter has for lunch and typically it's not as nutritious because it could possibly be,” Birge stated.
White Pony Specific has additionally taken steps to develop its services.
“We at the moment are in a brand new location in Harmony with extra fridge house,” Birge stated. “We are able to refrigerate extra meals and supply extra.”
In unsure and uncomfortable financial instances, White Pony Specific' providers might turn out to be much more crucial as a option to match surplus meals with these in want of sustenance.
“We're attempting to make a distinction for folks,” Birge stated. “We look ahead to offering our lower-income neighbors with entry to high-quality meals.”
THE SERIES SHARES THE SPIRIT
Share the Spirit is a 501(c)(three) nonprofit group operated by the East Bay Instances, The Mercury Information and Bay Space Information Group that brings aid, hope and alternative to East Bay residents by elevating cash for nonprofit applications. for revenue in Alameda and Contra. Coast Counties.
WANT
Donations will assist White Pony Specific develop its College Pantry Program to 16 colleges and start decreasing its ready record of 70 companies. This system, which at present serves 35,000 youngsters, offers recent, wholesome, ready-to-eat meals in colleges the place 80% or extra of scholars qualify without spending a dime or reduced-price lunch. Purpose: $10,000
HOW TO GIVE
Go to sharethespiriteastbay.org/donate or print and mail this way.
LEARN MORE
Discover extra tales at sharethespiriteastbay.org.