Philly Food Rescue
Fight Food Waste, Sustain Community
Download the Philly Food Rescue app, claim a food rescue, and keep good food out of landfills and on people’s tables where it belongs.
Volunteer with Philly Food Rescue
Philly Food Rescue is the sustainability, food recovery, and food donations project of Share Food Program.
Volunteering with PFR means that in just an hour or less, you will do something tangible to reduce food waste and resource local communities.
PFR increases fresh food access for our neighbors.
Our team recovers more than one half-million pounds of food every month thanks to volunteers like you, who keep wholesome food within our communities and out of the waste stream.
We resource 300+ partners across Greater Philadelphia, impacting nutrition security and sustainability every day of the week.
In 2023, 396 volunteers rescued and redistributed 6.8M pounds of food.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Download the Philly Food Rescue app in Google Play or the App Store, create a profile, and turn on notifications. You can then claim a one-time or weekly/recurring food rescue
- Drive, bike, or walk to rescue surplus food from a grocery store, restaurant, caterer, farmers market, or the Share warehouse
- Deliver the food to its matched recipient (this could be a senior center, shelter, place of worship, school, community fridge, clinic, affordable housing community, and more)
- Record your rescue in the Philly Food Rescue app! The Philly Food Rescue app houses all food rescue instructions, photos, maps, contact information, and donation records. Volunteers’ accurate reporting of donation kinds and quantities in-app preserves data integrity. Thanks for being our program’s careful eyes, helpful hands, and sturdy boots on the ground!
Volunteering Requirements
- A valid driver’s license and insurance if you will be driving for your food rescue. For smaller food rescues, a bike or transit pass may do – you can check the donation size in the Philly Food Rescue app!
- Ability to lift at least 30 lbs. If that’s not doable, bring a friend!
- A clear trunk/back seat to make space for boxes or bags of food. Or a backpack/bike storage if you plan to rescue food sans car! Nearly all donations are pre-packed for transport into boxes or bags. Some Wawa food rescues require insulated cooler bags, which we can provide. If another donor needs you to bring your own bins, bags, or boxes, we’ll let you know.
- A cell phone to communicate with the food donor, donation recipient, and PFR dispatch during the rescue
- Closed-toe shoes (recommended in the field, required at Share’s warehouse)
