FANTASY TO REALITY: BE THE RESCUE
Competing for a Cause
Food Rescue US is a national nonprofit with a bold mission: redirect surplus, nutritious food away from landfills and into the hands of people experiencing food insecurity. Their proprietary web-based app helps volunteers coordinate quick, local pick‑ups from restaurants, grocery stores, farmers’ markets, workplaces, and caterers, delivering directly to social service agencies—like soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters—across more than 40 sites in over 20 states plus Washington, DC. (Link: https://foodrescue.us/)
Their approach tackles two major problems simultaneously. First, it combats hunger by supplying fresh produce, dairy, proteins, baked goods, and prepared foods that are still perfectly good to eat Food Rescue US. Second, it fights climate change: by keeping food out of landfills, Food Rescue US helps reduce methane emissions—responsible for about 8% of global greenhouse gases (Link: https://foodrescue.us/).
Since it began, the organization has made a significant environmental and social impact—rescued millions of pounds of food, provided millions of meals, and prevented countless tons of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere—all driven by volunteers donating just 30 minutes of their time per rescue (Link: https://foodrescue.us/). Through their “Be the Rescue” movement, anyone can download the app, pick convenient pick-up slots, and make a difference in minutes.
Rasheeq Ahmed will be participating in this upcoming league on behalf of Food Rescue US. It’s personal: having worked in multiple food establishments, “I’ve firsthand witnessed how much edible food gets discarded daily. I’ve always felt that wasted potential deeply—but now, I have an opportunity to contribute more directly” Ahmed says.
He continues “If I win, all proceeds will be donated to Food Rescue US. This competition isn’t just about the prize; it’s about fueling a cause that resonates with me. Through this, I hope to raise awareness about food waste and the power of community-driven solutions. Thank you for supporting me—and joining me in supporting Food Rescue US in their mission to feed people, reduce waste, and preserve our planet.”
