Food For Thought
Food For Thought is ICT Food Rescue’s community-centered educational program designed to address two urgent and connected issues: food waste and food insecurity through engaging, accessible digital outreach. Rooted in the belief that everyday consumers and businesses can drive meaningful change, this program bridges the gap between awareness and action, starting in our own kitchens and extending to restaurants, schools, and institutions. Up to 40 percent of food produced in the U.S. is wasted each year, much of it perfectly edible (refed.com). At the same time, millions of Americans, including thousands in our community, face food insecurity daily (feedingamerica.org). Food For Thought equips individuals and organizations with the tools, knowledge, and motivation to reduce waste, stretch budgets, and help ensure surplus food feeds people and not landfills.
The program aims to raise awareness of food waste and food insecurity at both household and community levels. It provides practical, easy-to-follow strategies for reducing waste through meal planning, proper storage, upcycling, and smarter shopping. Food For Thought promotes the EPA Wasted Food Scale as a community roadmap for prevention, donation, and composting. It also empowers businesses and individuals with information on the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act and the Food Donation Improvement Act to encourage safe, liability-free donations. Ultimately, the program seeks to inspire behavior changes that strengthen food security and protect the environment.
Food For Thought will deliver a robust, ongoing digital campaign featuring eye-catching infographics and quick-tip posts with facts, statistics, and waste-reduction guides. The campaign includes short-form videos demonstrating leftover upcycling, proper storage techniques, and ways to use commonly wasted items such as vegetable peels, stale bread, and overripe produce. It offers meal planning and grocery shopping hacks to reduce over-purchasing and save money. Seasonal tips around holidays and large gatherings will ensure surplus food is shared or stored rather than discarded. Real-life impact stories from food donors, grocers, farmers, restaurants, and institutions committed to rescuing and redistributing their surplus will also be shared to inspire the community.
The impact goals of Food For Thought are to reduce edible food waste at the household and business levels, increase food literacy, resourcefulness, and confidence in waste-reduction practices, support food insecurity relief by promoting surplus food donations, and build a culture in Wichita where food is valued, used wisely, and shared generously. By combining education, inspiration, and actionable tools, Food For Thought will make it easier than ever for our community to plan with intention, buy with care, and see leftovers as opportunities, transforming awareness into lasting action for a more sustainable and compassionate future.