Sustainable Connections is seeking cooler donations to keep surplus food recovered by their Food Recovery Program at safe temperatures as it is transported for donation to families across Whatcom County.
The Food Recovery Program rescues tens-of-thousands of pounds of prepared foods each year from businesses and organizations in Whatcom County in order to provide meals for community members experiencing food insecurity while also diverting food from the community’s waste stream.
Cooler donations will help Sustainable Connections continue to serve Whatcom County in a way that is safe, efficient, and sustainable by transporting food donations at safe temperatures. Donated coolers will be sanitized and utilized immediately, and will allow organizational funds to be directed to other areas of need.
If you are interested in donating a cooler to the Food Recovery Program, please consider dropping off your clean and in-good-condition cooler to Sustainable Connections on Wednesday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Individuals who are unable to donate a cooler are encouraged to donate an in-kind amount to Sustainable Connections online.
To protect the safety of staff and donors, donors will stay in their cars as they arrive at the parking lot directly in front of Sustainable Connections and wait to be greeted by a staff member. Staff will then unload the donated cooler from the donor’s car wearing rubber gloves and face masks. High-risk individuals or individuals experiencing symptoms any of the following symptoms are asked to stay home: shortness of breath, fever of 100.4 F or greater, a cough, a sore throat, new muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or jaundice.
Food recovery and donation services have been designated as essential services in the state of Washington. The Food Recovery Program follows all current COVID-19 protocols in place by both the Centers for Disease Control and Whatcom County Health Department. All volunteers receive training in safe food handling procedures. All food donations will be safely and effectively redistributed to community members in need.
Local food businesses, farms, and related establishments are still encouraged to donate any excess or close-dated prepared foods, ingredients, and perishables to the Food Recovery Program.
To learn more about the Food Recovery Program’s cooler drive as well as a list of desired coolers, please visit: sustainableconnections.org/events/cooler-drive.
To learn more about the Food Recovery Program’s safety protocols during the COVID-19 crisis and how to get involved, please visit: squatchfoodwaste.org.
Please direct all food recovery inquiries to Mark Peterson, Sustainable Business & Food Recovery Program Manager at Sustainable Connections via email or phone: markp@sustainableconnections.org or (360) 201-0879.