Capital Campaign

To purchase and renovate a building for our new headquarters and our Food Transformation kitchen, we will need to conduct a capital campaign.

ICT Food Rescue began in 2016 as a vision of Stephanie Merritt. Returning to college at the age of 46, her coursework on social justice, combined with a job where she saw surplus food thrown out every day, inspired her to make a difference.

Today, more than 39,500 tons of food waste go to Sedgwick County landfills each year. More than 12.4% (65,000) of the population in Sedgwick County is food insecure – 1 of every 8 persons. More than 18.3% (24,270) of children in Sedgwick County are food insecure – 2 of every 11 children (www.FeedingAmerica.com).

The mission of ICT Food Rescue is to distribute unavoidable food surplus, sharing with the food insecure of Wichita. We collect surplus food from Wichita restaurants, grocery stores, caterers, urban farmers, etc., and distribute it to nonprofits serving people who are experiencing food insecurity. Our volunteer “food runners” pick up and transport the food. We are also advocates for raising awareness of food waste and food insecurity and the environmental and economic impact of food waste sent to landfills.

Thanks to the support of our volunteers, partners and donors, we have rescued more than 700,000 pounds of food since our founding in 2016. That’s more than 583,000 meals provided to people who are experiencing food insecurity and poverty! In 2021 alone, we fed more than 5,000 adults and children in Wichita.

In 2022, we are watching Stephanie’s next vision unfold. The City of Wichita has given us a grant for seed money to start an innovative program – a Food Transformation Kitchen. Funding for this grant was awarded to Wichita from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

At our Food Transformation Kitchen, we will accept donations of fresh produce, protein, and pantry staples such as beans, rice, and lentils, and turn these ingredients into ready-to-eat meals that we will deliver to our nonprofit community partners. We will use our Food Transformation Kitchen to feed even more Wichitans who are experiencing food insecurity. By 2025, our goal is to produce more than 500,000 meals annually.

Our first challenge – The grant from the City of Wichita is not enough to buy and renovate a building to create a Food Transformation Kitchen that is compliant with local and state health codes. By accepting the ARPA funds, we have committed to purchasing a building by July 2022 and starting operations by June 2023. This is our leap of faith.

Would you please help us reach our goal of raising an additional $350,000 by June 2023 to make our Food Transformation Kitchen a reality? Every gift is important! Donor opportunities start at $1.00. Each donor will be recognized publicly in the ICT Food Rescue and Transformation Welcome Center.