The San Antonio Food Bank is breaking new ground in food rescue efforts, becoming one of the first Feeding America food banks to generate revenue through carbon credits tied to keeping edible food out of landfills.
The initiative builds on the food bank’s long-running retail grocery rescue program, which collects surplus food from local retailers and redistributes it to families and nonprofit partners throughout South Texas. According to San Antonio Food Bank President and CEO Eric Cooper, food rescue benefits both people and the environment.
“It’s better to get that food to nourish a family,” Cooper said. “If it ends up in the landfill, it actually hurts the environment.”
The food bank operates 16 trucks dedicated to retail grocery rescue efforts. Drivers pick up food from as many as 10 to 11 stores each day, collecting items ranging from bread and dairy products to meat and fresh produce. The rescued food is then distributed to nonprofit organizations across the food bank’s 29-county service area.
For driver Chris Wheland, the work is about more than transporting food.
“I believe that me coming to work every day makes a difference in somebody’s life,” Wheland said.
The rescued food plays a vital role for community partners, such as the Friendship House Pantry operated by St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Pantry director Arnie Luna said demand remains high as families continue to struggle with rising costs.
“People really look at meat because the prices are really high right now,” Luna said.
Luna said inflation and higher living expenses have led to an increase in the number of families seeking assistance.
“At this time, with the economy the way things are, inflation, prices going up, nothing’s coming down. It’s really hard on the neighbors, the community,” he said.
Among those relying on the pantry is San Antonio resident Gladys Perez, who said the assistance has helped her family stretch their budget.
“It’s very, very helpful,” Perez said. “I get what I need without having to use all my money specifically for groceries because there’s bills, there’s everything else that you have to pay.”
The food bank said its food rescue efforts have grown significantly. In 2023 alone, the organization rescued more than 51 million pounds of food, helping provide 43 million meals across South Texas.
Cooper says the addition of carbon-credit revenue creates another benefit from food rescue efforts, supporting both environmental sustainability and food security for families in need.
Read also:
