Kentuckiana volunteers collect, donate millions of pounds of surplus food for those in need

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Every day, volunteers across Kentuckiana are making a significant impact by saving millions of pounds of food from being wasted and redirecting it to those in need.

Food that might otherwise end up in landfills finds a new purpose thanks to dedicated volunteers like Bobbie Scofield. Scofield, who has been actively participating in food rescue missions for a year-and-a-half, has completed 176 rescues to date.

“I’ve brought in over 11,000 pounds of food,” Scofield shared. Driving her trusty Prius around town, she picks up surplus food from local businesses such as Thorton’s and delivers it to nonprofits like Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Scofield and nearly 200 other volunteers use the Kentucky Harvest app to coordinate their efforts. Since its launch last November, the app has facilitated the rescue of more than two million pounds of food from local businesses.

“It’s a piece of cake,” Scofield said, referring to how easy the app makes it to participate in the program.

The rescued food is put to immediate use. At Ronald McDonald House in Downtown Louisville, Chef Omar Romero transforms these donations into warm, nourishing meals for families staying there while their children receive medical care.

“We really rely heavily on donors to provide us with these ingredients,” Romero explained. “It just takes something off of their plate for the day.”

For many families, these meals are more than just food—they’re a source of comfort during incredibly challenging times.

“They are truly in need. They're in a situation where they are helpless, their resources are very slim,” Scofield said. “It’s so gratifying to be able to do something like this.”

Want to help? Download the Kentucky Harvest App and join the mission to fight food waste and hunger in Kentuckiana.

With volunteers like Bobbie Scofield leading the way, the community is turning potential waste into hope for those who need it most.

For more information, click here.

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