Food Recovery Program
The Food Recovery Program, utilizing Food Rescue US software, coordinates volunteer “food runners” throughout Wichita, KS, to collect surplus food and deliver it to nonprofit partners serving the food insecure. In the United States, up to 40% of the food supply is wasted, with 42% of that waste being fresh fruits and vegetables and 26% milk and dairy products (foodrescue.us, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). In 2021, the country generated 91 million tons of surplus food, unsold or uneaten, equating to roughly 549 pounds per person (refed.org). In 2024, ICT Food Rescue diverted 331,430 pounds of food from landfills, turning it into the equivalent of 276,192 meals for approximately 6,500 unduplicated adults and children in Wichita. These efforts saved our nonprofit partners an estimated $639,660.
ICT Food Rescue staff meet with food donors to complete onboarding, collect necessary information, and coordinate seamless weekly pickup schedules for volunteers. Donated food is matched with nonprofit organizations that have the storage capacity, staffing, and operational hours to repurpose and serve it quickly. The Food Rescue US platform streamlines scheduling, shares essential pickup instructions, and tracks data to measure impact. ICT Food Rescue partners with over 50 local and national restaurants, caterers, and food producers to keep unavoidable surplus food out of landfills and into the hands of those who are experiencing food insecurity.
Current nonprofit recipients include:
Anchor of Hope
Carpenter Place
CityLife Church
Emporia House
Breakthrough
His Helping Hands
HumanKind
New Life Church & Outreach Center
Open Door
Passageways
Ronald McDonald House Charities Wichita
Shocker Support Locker
The Lord’s Diner
The Phoenix
Treehouse
Union Rescue Mission
Wichita Family Crisis Center
Wichita Fellowship Club
Bread of Life
Within the Food Recovery Program are two unique initiatives: Eggs To Donate and the Surplus Condiment Drive. Eggs To Donate addresses the challenge of surplus eggs from backyard chicken flocks, which can be difficult to consume or sell in time. Wichita city regulations allow up to three chickens without a permit, and up to twelve hens with a permit. Eggs are highly valued by nonprofits, providing nutrient-dense, high-quality protein, about 6.3 grams per egg (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). ICT Food Rescue utilizes the Food Rescue US software to coordinate farm pickups, schedule volunteers, and track donations, while actively expanding partnerships with local chicken farmers and highlighting them through community outreach.
The Surplus Condiment Drive rescues sealed sauce packets and packaged silverware that might otherwise be discarded. Community members can drop off items at Passageways Outreach Center and Paradise Donuts West, where volunteers sort, weigh, and record donations before distributing them to nonprofits that serve sack lunches or offsite meals, including Wichita Fellowship Club, Union Rescue Mission, New Life Church & Outreach Center, and Open Door. This program doubles as an educational opportunity, with school-age children sorting and weighing condiments, giving them hands-on insight into food waste and the importance of food recovery.
Through this multi-faceted approach, rescuing prepared and perishable food, redirecting unique resources like eggs and condiments, and educating the next generation, the Food Recovery Program transforms potential food waste into nourishment, builds community collaboration, and strengthens food security in Wichita.