Adelyn Chan- 2024 Food Rescue Hero Conference
VFR: Adelyn, tell us about the Food Rescue Hero technology (which powers VFR’s app) – the history of the app, the organizations that use it, and the impact the technology has had across North America.
Adelyn Chan: Food Rescue Hero (FRH) is the app technology platform that we use to manage our rescues each day. The platform launched in 2016 and was piloted by 412 Food Rescue in their home city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Since then, they have grown to a network of 20 different cities/regions across North America utilizing their technology for their food recovery program.
We are their only Canadian partner, with the rest of the 19 scattered across the United States from coast to coast. The impact that all 20 partners across North America is impressive:
🍎 139 million pounds of food redirected
🚗 432,000 food rescues coordinated
❤️ 41,808 registered volunteer food rescue hero drivers
Below is a screenshot of all 20 partners! (You can also check out the interactive webpage HERE)
The FRH platform automates many of the time-consuming tasks to logistically manage our 30 - 50 food rescues throughout the day. I think of it as our database of information. It contains all our data regarding food donors, nonprofit partners, and volunteers within the app.
At VFR, our team is constantly monitoring the app, making changes, and updating pieces, so that our volunteers have the best information to complete their rescues.
Photos were generously provided by Tyler Newpol Films
VFR: You recently returned from the Food Rescue Conference in Pittsburgh. Tell us about your experience and the importance of being able to connect with other individuals and organizations using the same technology and sharing the same goals.
AC: What made this conference special was that every organization in attendance was using the same app platform as us to redirect surplus food. There are many ways organizations can manage food recovery operations, but the conference provided a unique opportunity to connect with others who spoke the same 'language’.
It was a valuable opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices—such as which logistical changes within the app and system were effective, and which weren’t. Each organization was navigating different government policies and geographical constraints, but at the core of it all was the technology driving the operations. This allowed us to move beyond the general discussions and dive into the nitty-gritty details!
Although we use the same base technology, the implementation of it in each city can be quite different. For example, some organizations manage their own fleet of trucks and drivers or do direct food distribution to individuals and families.
It was inspiring to see so many people committed to diverting surplus food to organizations and people. I left feeling energized for the future of food recovery!
VFR: What are some of your key learnings from the conference?
Communication
Communication was a big theme throughout the conference, especially when it comes to engaging and maintaining food donors. One of the key challenges mentioned were ensuring that all food is picked up at an agreed time and that we show how the donations are being used and the impact it’s making for the food industry.
The food recovery community has been working hard to make the process more transparent. Donors want to know where their food is going, who it’s helping, and what environmental impact it’s having.
By providing regular updates, sharing success stories, and offering a clear picture of the journey from donation to plate, organizations can foster stronger, long-term relationships with their donors. This transparency is crucial for maintaining a steady stream of donations and ensuring that everyone involved feels part of the solution.
In addition, building strong relationships with food donors will also help us move in the direction of food waste prevention. We provide businesses with key data to reduce waste as well as connections to organizations that can do a food waste audit and suggest operational solutions to bring their overall food waste down.
Can you spot Adelyn in the photo above? 👀
Sports Partnerships
One of the most interesting discussions focused on partnerships between food rescue organizations and sports teams. Many sports arenas and venues generate significant amounts of surplus food after events, and the idea of partnering with sports teams to collect and redistribute this food to local communities is especially exciting in Vancouver, with the Zero Waste 2040 plan in place.
After a big game, there’s often a lot of leftover food that would otherwise go to waste. For example, in Pittsburgh, food rescue efforts have successfully collected thousands of pounds of surplus bread and other baked goods from the baseball stadium. By partnering with local food rescue organizations, we could help redirect this food to those in need, while reducing the environmental impact of these large events.
Alternative Ways to Show the Environmental Impact of Food Recovery
We all know that food waste is a major environmental issue, but how can we effectively communicate the impact of food recovery efforts in a way that resonates with the public?
This was a key topic at the conference, where the focus was on finding new ways to track and highlight the environmental benefits of food recovery.
We discussed how the app could incorporate various ways to report CO2 equivalent mitigation, such as the number of trees saved, and we’re hoping the app developers can implement this feature soon.
These statistics make the environmental benefits of food recovery more relatable for the general public and provides donors with a clearer understanding of the real-world impact of their contributions.
VFR: As you were connecting with others and listening to speakers from across North America, what is some information you were surprised to learn?
AC: While I’ve heard about it from local organizations, the cost of running a fleet is truly staggering. I learned about the significant expenses involved in maintaining vehicles, hiring drivers, and keeping everything in working order. Fuel costs, insurance, and ongoing maintenance can quickly add up.
For organizations without the budget to support full-time staff, this is a serious barrier. Even when vehicles are generously donated, many organizations lack the space or the capacity to manage additional vehicles.
At Vancouver Food Runners (VFR), we are proud that our food donation transportation is 100% volunteer-powered. It’s our dedicated volunteers who make it possible for us to have the impact we do — thank you to each and every volunteer on our team!
VFR: Coming out of the conference, tell us about some ideas you're excited to implement at VFR in 2025!
Using social media to promote our program to potential food donors, such as new videos
Promote our pick-up efficiency by sharing data on how quickly we’re able to collect donations and redistribute them
Use testimonials from current food donors to create program awareness in the food industry
Build our sports partnerships, see if we can support with picking up surplus food from major event arenas
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