Nourishing the DMV, one rescue at a time
DC Food Rescue is a volunteer-powered food recovery initiative dedicated to reducing food waste and increasing access to nutritious food across the Metropolitan Washington area.
By connecting local food donors to community organizations serving residents experiencing food insecurity, DC Food Rescue helps ensure that surplus food is redistributed efficiently to prevent food waste.
Reducing Waste, Building Community
Every year, the US produces about 70 million tons of “extra” food that does not get sold or served1.
Only 2.5% of this surplus gets donated to feed people in need. The rest goes to compost, animals, or landfill1.
Meanwhile, more than 1.5 million people in the Washington metro region have experienced food insecurity in the past year2.
DC Food Rescue bridges the gap between businesses that have more food than they need, and locals who could use more fresh meals. By enlisting volunteers to deliver this donated food, we create pathways for social connection and direct community support.
2026 By the Numbers
1,536Food rescues per month
1,225,990Pounds of food rescued
200Businesses who have donated food
195Community Partners served
4,639,191Pounds of carbon dioxide emissions offset
271Volunteers engaged
128,945,117Gallons of water waste offset
Want to make an impact?
Check out our Get Involved pages to see how you can support our mission.