How Crystal’s NEAR is Saving Food from Waste: Join the Movement to Rescue Meals!

This week marks Food Waste Prevention Week, highlighting a major issue in America: a staggering 30 to 40 percent of the nation’s food supply is wasted. This is particularly concerning when you consider that many people do not have enough to eat.

In Crystal, Minnesota, the NEAR Food Shelf is fighting against food waste and hunger. Dave Fernelius, a local volunteer, just completed another grocery rescue mission. He filled his car with bread and dairy items from the Robbinsdale Hy-Vee to help restock the shelves at NEAR.

This is a way to help people in the community,” Dave said, emphasizing the importance of food donations in supporting those in need.

Hy-Vee participates in the Second Harvest Heartland’s Food Rescue program, which allows grocery stores to donate food that’s nearing its expiration date. The food shelf director, Thea Bruley, notes that these donations are vital. Most of our frozen and fresh items come from grocery store contributions,” she said. Without this food source, NEAR would only be able to provide basic pantry staples.

Interestingly, in 2024, Hy-Vee donated about 975,000 pounds of food to local food pantries across the Twin Cities. This shows how impactful food rescue programs can be. Bruley shared that even if they can’t distribute all donations, they find ways to minimize waste. Any untouched food is sent to a local pig farmer for feed.

“Every bit helps,” Bruley stated. NEAR Food Shelf supports around 650 households each month, and their new model allows clients to choose their food, which also helps reduce waste by ensuring people take only what they will use.

As food waste continues to be a national concern, initiatives like those at NEAR Food Shelf play a significant role. By working together, communities can make a difference in both feeding the hungry and protecting our resources.

For more insights on tackling food waste, you can read reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and learn more about the impact of these programs on local communities.



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