We strategically partner with smaller food businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, urban farms, catering and meal prep companies, cafeterias, campuses, and even the film industry. These are businesses and sectors that have not historically had a mechanism for surplus food donation. We have a unique role to play with respect to the long tail. The long tail is a statistical concept where the larger cumulative quantity lies not in larger amounts, but in smaller representations. The ongoing rescue of smaller donations that make up the long tail is not cost-effective nor scalable if the solution is to add trucks for this type of smaller collection. Many food organizations have tried this traditional approach and have found the escalating costs make the initiative challenging. VFR’s innovative use of app technology and volunteer food drivers allows us to rescue the long tail that is currently being wasted and harming our environment.

Rather than residents experiencing food insecurity having to access large food banks that are often far away (e.g., the Greater Vancouver Food Bank only has one location in Vancouver), which can be difficult due to time, transportation, cost, and childcare issues, our agile volunteer drivers get food to smaller food distribution sites across the city (we currently have 140+ nonprofit partners). This allows for increased food access and more equitable food distribution. In addition, most of our nonprofit partners provide wraparound support services (e.g., education, employment, housing, health care, counselling) where food is an entry point and relationship-building component of their transformative core programming. Over 12,000+ community members are reached through VFR's food donations each month, and we strategically partner with nonprofits in underserved areas of the city. In addition, 5.2% of the nonprofits we partner with are Indigenous-led organizations, as we support local reconciliation and decolonizing processes and create space for the voices and perspectives of Indigenous food leaders through our bimonthly VFR newsletter.

Our immediate food donor to recipient match allows for our focus on fresh, perishable food (over 91% of the food we distribute is fresh and over 51% is produce), which is desperately needed by those experiencing food insecurity. Regular access to fresh, healthy food is the foundation of good health and well-being.

Our growing team of 3100+ volunteer food drivers registered on the app are active partners in getting surplus food to those in need as well as our allies in increasing awareness around food waste, food insecurity, and sustainability in the city. Food waste is often an invisible issue, but volunteers immediately see how much food they are rescuing (in 2023, the average rescue was 180 pounds) and how they are making a difference to their community and the environment. They learn more through VFR’s bimonthly e-newsletter (readership 1400+) and several volunteers have started connecting with local food businesses they frequent to share about our program and how the business can get involved. In addition, VFR's long-term goal is to help create a more equitable, just, resilient, and sustainable food system for all in Vancouver. Through VFR's growing community of partners and volunteers and our ongoing policy work with the Vancouver Food Policy Council, City of Vancouver, Westside Food Collaborative, Vancouver Food Justice Coalition, and other key stakeholders, we aim to advance and create awareness around evidence-based solutions to food security and poverty.

The VFR app tracks all our metrics – pounds of food collected, type of food, number of food rescues, meals distributed, carbon dioxide mitigated – critical data points to measure impact and refine our program. We also provide partners with monthly and/or annual reports. Food donors appreciate this data, as it is good to share with patrons and partners, and it helps them reduce their overall food waste to address the environmental impact of wasted food.