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Empower local change-makers
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Help agencies conserve key resources
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Provide food to those who need it most
Doing the Work
40% of food produced is wasted, while 1 in 5 people face food insecurity. This is a solvable problem, and Last Mile Food Rescue is here to make it happen. We use technology and volunteer power to rescue good food before it’s wasted and connect it to the nonprofits feeding our community.
Together, we’re reducing food waste, protecting the environment, and making sure everyone has access to fresh, healthy food.
Our Team
Benita Capers
513-466-1307
benita@lastmilefood.org
Our Board
Tom Fernandez
Neil Tilow
Jodi Geiser
Jenifer Moore
Matt Fischer
Bill Goldberg
Hank Kerschen
Deon Mack
Andrew Cron
Aaron Vennemeyer
Eleanor Haussler
Pete Blackshaw
Melissa Stevens
Chai Nadiq
Our Story
It all started with one simple belief: Good food belongs to people, not landfills.
Inspired to tackle both food insecurity and food waste, Tom Fernandez and Julie Shifman joined forces to launch Last Mile Food Rescue, with the vision of connecting surplus food to those in need. They had the passion and drive, but they needed a logistics expert to make it happen. Enter Eileen Budo, who joined the leadership team from day one to turn this vision into reality.
With over 20 years of logistics experience at Procter & Gamble, Eileen brought invaluable expertise in supply chain management and efficiency, helping to shape Last Mile's operations from the ground up. As our founding Chief Operating Officer, she built and scaled our food rescue network to efficiently connect food donors with agencies serving those in need. Today, as CEO, Eileen leads Last Mile with the same strategic vision and dedication, and under her leadership, we’ve diverted millions of pounds of food from landfills to the tables of our community.
Who Goes Hungry?
That’s how many of our neighbors face food insecurity in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region, including more than 80,000 children. Our region’s food banks, shelters and pantries are already making a critical difference in fighting food insecurity. But there’s still a gap between the number of meals these organizations provide and feeding all those who are in need.
At least 17 million meals are needed to feed our neighbors fighting food insecurity.
Despite high numbers of people with food insecurity, huge amounts of good, fresh, surplus food from places like grocery stores, convenience stores, event venues, food distributors and corporate and school cafeterias is thrown out every day.
Wasting food wastes the water, land, energy and other resources needed to produce it. And when food is left to decompose in a landfill, it releases toxic methane gas, a greenhouse gas that fuels climate change. 62 million tons of food ends up in landfills every year.
Such a Waste
Connecting the Dots With Food Rescue
Last Mile Food Rescue’s purpose is to be the logistics solution creating a network and using technology to connect good food with our neighbors who are food insecure.
Now we just need you!
When you help, you’re doing more than rescuing food: You’re rescuing people in our own community. Learn how you can help fight hunger and food waste now. Learn how you can help eliminate wasted food and fight hunger.
We’re Driving Down Food Insecurity
Last Mile Food Rescue was founded to bridge the gaps between hunger, food waste and environmental sustainability in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region.
Click here to view our most recent Last Mile Impact Report.
In the News...
FC Cincinnati star partners up with Food Rescue
Story by Jason Maxwell, FOX19, June 24, 2024
A Tri-State organization is making sure no food goes to waste at Taste of Cincinnati
Story by Madeline Ottilie, WCPO, May 23, 2024
Taste of Cincinnati teams up with food rescue to prevent food waste at annual festival
Story by Christian Hauser, WKRC, May 27, 2024
Ending Food Insecurity
Story by M. Leigh Hood, Cincinnati Magazine, November 27, 2023
Growing Together
Story by John Stegeman, The Catholic Telegraph, November 21, 2023
Here Are Our Current Openings
More Hope, Less Wasted Food and Hunger
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1. Reach out to us for more information
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2. Volunteer, donate food or give financially
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3. Feel good about doing your part