Our Mission is to End Local Hunger.
Kentucky Harvest connects food donors, charities and volunteers to reduce waste and feed our community.
The purpose and origin was to address a simple but urgent problem: good food was going to waste while people in our community were going hungry. From the beginning, our focus has been on rescuing both perishable and non-perishable food and ensuring it reaches those who need it most.
Today, Kentucky Harvest operates a single, mission-driven program—People Helping People. Through this program, we rescue surplus food from restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, schools, businesses and food drives and pick it up and deliver it the same day to nonprofit organizations such as homeless shelters, addiction recovery centers, children’s programs, churches and food pantries.
Unlike traditional food pantries, Kentucky Harvest fills a critical gap by rescuing and delivering perishable food quickly—often within hours—so fresh, usable food doesn’t go to waste and people facing hunger receive timely support.
OUR MISSION: reduce/alleviate local food insecurity by connecting our partners, volunteers, and nonprofits to keep good food out of landfills and nourish our community.
We mobilize fast to rescue surplus from grocers, restaurants, consumer food producers and distributors—getting it to nonprofits and families while it’s still fresh and safe.
We don’t just respond to hunger—we build systems that reduce it. Through strong donor partnerships and efficient logistics, we create sustainable food rescue networks.
We use real-time coordination and tracking to maximize every pound rescued. We measure impact, identify gaps and ensure foods reaches our parter with efficiency.
We connect businesses, nonprofits, volunteers and donors around one mission. Together, we turn rescued surplus into sustenance—reducing waste while fighting hunger.
Food insecurity means not having consistent access to enough nutritious food to live a healthy life. It can affect individuals and families for many reasons—including job loss, rising costs, health challenges or unexpected life events—and often exists even when food is available nearby.
Hunger is complex—but so is the power of community. Through innovation, collaboration, and action, Kentucky Harvest connects excess food with neighbors in need. Every rescued meal represents progress toward a more resilient, equitable food system.
Kentucky Harvest doesn’t simply respond to hunger; we activate solutions. By building partnerships, coordinating logistics, and mobilizing communities, we transform surplus into sustenance and short-term support into long-term impact.
Community is at the heart of Kentucky Harvest’s mission. We serve the full food rescue ecosystem—from individuals facing hunger and the nonprofit organizations that feed them to the food and corporate partners and financial donors who make our work possible. Together, we strengthen communities across Jefferson, Oldham, and Shelby counties in Kentucky, and Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties in Southern Indiana by rescuing food, reducing waste, and fighting hunger where the need is greatest.
Our volunteers rescue and deliver surplus food that saves local nonprofit organizations more than $4 million each year in food costs—resources that can be reinvested into critical programs including homelessness services, outreach, family reunification, addiction recovery and support for at-risk youth throughout the communities we serve.
By uniting partners, volunteers and logistics expertise, we ensure surplus food feeds people—not landfills—strengthening communities and reducing waste.
These numbers represent more than statistics—they reflect meals delivered, waste reduced and communities strengthened.
Years of Foundation
Non-Profit Partners
Food Partners
Behind every rescued meal is a dedicated team committed to reducing food waste and strengthening our community. From coordinating food donors and volunteers to managing logistics and partnerships, our staff works daily to ensure that surplus food reaches the people who need it most. We are proud to serve with purpose and passion.
Cindy Adkins, Chair – Retired from Cardinal Health
Erin Rasinen, Vice Chair – Messer Construction Co.
Grant Lewis, Secretary – Deloitte
Christopher Black, Finance Chair – Inside Real Estate
Rebecca Boylan – Optum
Andrea Brady – American Printing House for the Blind
Brian Crilly – Papa John’s International, Inc.
Matt Ferreri – Brighthouse Financial
Emir Galijatovic – Humana
Shane Schlatter – Exodus Family Ministries
Gary Spence – Republic Bank
Chad Clark – Papa John’s International
Get monthly updates on how rescued food is making a difference in our community—and how you can help.
© 2026 Kentucky Harvest. All Rights Reserved.
