ReThink Food Gala
Every year, NYC sends million tons of waste to landfills, almost a third of which is solely food. When food waste degrades in landfills, it produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. NYC restaurants, in total, account for the largest single stream of food waste on the commercial side. They generate close to more than 650,000 tons of food waste annually. As such, the restaurant segment represents the greatest commercial opportunity to reduce the volume of New York City’s landfilled food waste. If just five percent of New York City’s largest restaurants deterred from landfill half of the food waste they generate – by reducing it at source, donating what’s edible, and composting what’s not, the city as a whole would reduce landfilled commercial food waste 14 percent.
ReThink Food NYC Inc, is trying to fix this extensive problem. With donations from some of NYC’s top restaurants and product suppliers such as Eleven Madison Park, Fleishers, Square Roots, and many more. The company takes excess food from food distributors, restaurants, and other services institutions and transform it into delicious, safe, ready-to-eat meals for the NYC food bank and other social service agencies. The donators get the benefit of a potential tax write-off, so it’s a win-win for everyone. Over the last year the ReThink has worked extremely hard with their team of lawyers and industry professionals to help create a cohesive system that allows them to redistribute all the wonderful excess food in New York City.
Last Monday, May 14th, ReThink held a celebratory gala at the iconic NoMad Hotel. An evening of delicious food, cocktails, and fun ensued. Board members, gave a heartwarming speech stating that, “This is only the beginning, we are going to help a lot more people.” Live entertainment and music was provided by Purr, while delectable food and drink specialties, curated by The NoMad, roamed around all night. A coveted silent auction also took place, with guests bidding on generous gifts and items donated by top restaurant and hospitality groups from all over NYC.
In attendance were a lot of people from the restaurant industry, and after speaking with a few of them, it was apparent that these people truly believe in the organization and the charitable aspect of feeding the 1 in 4 Americans that still go hungry every day. Pietro Collina, the social equity director for the ReThink passionately said that, “We are not about making money, we are all coming with backgrounds in the food and hospitality industry so we know the business, and we just want to help people, that’s why we are a non-profit.”
It was a wonderful night filled with amazing people for an essential cause. All proceeds from the evening are charitable donations and will go toward the continued success and growth of ReThink.
About ReThink Food
Rethink Food NYC Inc is a non-profit organization working to recover nutritious excess food to provide low or no-cost meals to New York City families in need.
We transform unused food from grocery stores, restaurants, and farmers’ markets into meals that are delivered to local agencies in New York City; serving those in need. With the initiative to run a community kitchen, our top chefs can both serve their community while developing entrepreneurial and leadership skills to help students establish an education that they will carry with them into future careers. Rethink Food NYC Inc goes beyond meals by using food as the tool to promote poverty solutions, implement garden initiatives, participate in nutrition education, and convene food policy events.
Photos courtesy of ReThink
