United Healthcare Grant Provided $300K for Saving Grace to Meet Growing Needs

Partnerships are at the very heart of Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue’s (savinggracefoodrescue.org) mission, and a recent case in point is a partnership with United Healthcare that netted a $300,000 grant for the nonprofit to purchase a new refrigerated van, buy a 14-foot replacement refrigerated truck, and add staff positions, outreach, and education. The grant is helping Saving Grace meet the increased demand for services by building capacity, which is especially crucial during the pandemic when more people than ever are food-insecure. Saving Grace works to save excess perishable food that otherwise would be wasted and provide it to organizations that are feeding hungry people in our community.

“This grant from United Healthcare is one example of how partnerships are crucial in every part of our program,” said Beth Ostdiek Smith, Saving Grace’s founder and CEO. “The new replacement refrigerated truck and van position us to better respond to emerging opportunities for food donations.”

All told, about 60 food vendors donate their surplus perishable food to Saving Grace, which then delivers it to the more than 40 nonprofit agencies that use this nutritious food for their clients. Financial donors, along with the relationships Saving Grace has built with key funders, also are critical to sustaining and growing these operations.

For more information about Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue or to become a funding partner, vendor, or nonprofit recipient of rescued food, visit savinggracefoodrescue.org or call (402) 215-6718.