Jeanne Thoreson | Community Food Response

Jeanne has been involved in food rescue in the Rochester, MN area for the last 8 years.  She feels that environmental stewardship needs to happen at a grass roots level to be most effective.  Government programs are certainly necessary, but do not foster a sense of ownership the way a community based effort can, with local people working together to create pride in success.  Community Food Response (CFR) of Rochester, MN is such a grass roots nonprofit, envisioned and run largely by volunteers since 1993.  CFR rescues extra, end of day, perishable food from area commercial kitchens, such as hospitals, caterers, groceries and restaurants, and turns that food around, same day, to distribute to area families in need of food.  We feel that environmental stewardship is everyone’s responsibility and food security is an issue of social justice needing attention.  We currently rescue food from over 20 commercial donors and feed over 350 people 3 afternoons each week.