Thank you, Tribune, for reminding Utahns about the disparities in access to healthy foods for Utah families and how they can help (“Utahns struggle with food insecurity. Cities and towns can help.”).
Three years ago I became aware of this local need so I dove into community action with Waste Less Solutions, a nonprofit dedicated to salvaging food from various businesses and redistributing it to those in need. Through this initiative, we pick up food from large and small businesses, restaurants and universities, distributing that food to senior centers, homeless shelters, preschools, charities, and boys and girls clubs, just to name a few.
Besides the good feeling this provides me — food not going waste — there is an environmental angle to our work. The food does not end up in a landfill — which generates methane. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is overheating our planet.Consider this: For every mile driven, approximately 1 pound of CO2 is released into the atmosphere. For every pound of food waste, approximately 3.5 pounds of CO2 (in the form of methane), is released into the atmosphere.Thus, our efforts to address food insecurity carry a dual benefit: not only do we alleviate hunger in our community, but we also mitigate the detrimental impacts of a changing climate. It’s a win-win scenario for the health and well-being of Utah children. Through initiatives like Waste Less Solutions, we’re not just tackling immediate needs, we’re also safeguarding our common home for ourselves and for future generations.
Dennis Mullen, West Jordan