Summary
Organization name
We Don't Waste
other names
We Don't Waste
2009
Category
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
6090 E 39th AveDenver, CO 80207
Denver County, CO, US
About
Tax Credits
Your gift protects our planet from food waste and provides nutritious food at no-cost to Coloradans experiencing food insecurity.
We Don't Waste reduces hunger and food waste by recovering quality, unused food from the food industry and delivering it free-of-charge to hunger-relief agencies and directly to communities in food deserts through free Mobile Food Markets. Since our inception in 2009, we have recovered and distributed over 220 million servings of food and nourished countless lives while reducing food headed to our landfills.
We Don't Waste is growing to meet the increasing number of Coloradans facing food insecurity (about 1 in 10 people), with more food recovered, more food agency recipients, and more meals on plates. Your support drives further local impact.
In 2023:
- We recovered 22+ million servings of food
- Supported 117 local nonprofits and their food programs with no-cost food distribution
- Provided food to over 80,000 families at Mobile Food Markets
What your gift will accomplish:
- Help us feed more of our neighbors, today!
- Help We Don't Waste complete the new 30,000 sq.ft Food Recovery Hub, increasing our capacity for food recovery and distribution by 3x
- Support growth of our Education Program, providing students with nutrition education and food waste reduction skills
- Prevents food rot in our local landfills and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions (spoiler alert: food waste is a HUGE pollutant)
Testimonials
"We Don't Waste has helped to supplement our provision of daily meals and food pantry services in order to allow us to continue to serve the poor, the homeless, the marginalized and the forgotten in our community." - Mission Arvada of The Rising Church
"Honestly, without We Don't Waste's support we would not be able to have a food pantry. We would go back to primarily serving as a snack-stop for students to get things like ramen or crackers." - Community College of Denver
"We Don't Waste has saved our pantry! Before We Don't Waste we had very little and limited items to offer our families. We are very happy and lucky for an organization like We Don't Waste! The staff is absolutely amazing, friendly and flexible to work with! Thank you, We Don't Waste!" - Wyatt Academy
"Our food pantry guests ask most for fresh produce, dairy and meat. We Don't Waste provides all three in high quality with great customer service at no cost. We could not ask for more. God bless We Don't Waste!" - New Apostolic Church
"Our students and family members always tell us how grateful they are for the quality fruit, veggies and protein. Students always tell us how excited they are to find their favorite foods and they don't have to pay for them!!" - Denver South High School Food Pantry
Trusted By Your Neighbors
Mission
We increase food access and protect the planet by rescuing and repurposing food, while educating and advocating to increase food security and decrease food waste.
Background Statement
We Don't Waste (WDW) was founded in September 2009 after assessing needs in the community of agencies serving populations typically unserved and underserved, such as: people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence victims and their children, veterans, and drug and alcohol recovery program participants. Due to the 2008 economic downturn, many of these agencies were and still are experiencing reduced funding for food provision services.
Prior to obtaining its Letter of Determination from the Internal Revenue Service in May 2011, WDW began successful operations in September of 2009 under the fiscal umbrella of the Denver Inner City Parish. We Don't Waste received its own IRS Letter of Determination in May 2011. During this period WDW grew, both in the volume of product recovered (250 tons or $1.1 million in 2010 alone) and in the number of agencies supported (now over 100).
To date, We Don't Waste has recovered and distributed more than 220 million servings of food, and serves approximately 500,000 Coloradans each year with operations based out of the Food Recovery Hub in Northeast Park Hill.
Media gallery
Organization Data
Denver, CO 80207